Postcoital contraception or emergency contraception(EC), commonly known as the "morning after pills", prevents pregnancy after unprotected intercourse. A comprehensive definition of EC is as follows : "specific contraceptive methods that can be used as emergency measures to prevent pregnancy after unproteted intercourse". Both drugs and certain devices can be used for emergency contraception. The best-studied regimen(Yuzpe) consists of an ordinary combination of oral contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol and norgestrel. Conventional clinical guidelines recommend a first dose within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse and a second dose 12 hours thereafter. These drugs are most effective when taken as soon as possible after the intercourse. The Yuzpe regimen reduced the risk of unintended pregnancy by at least 75% in clinical trials. The most common side effects of the Yuzpe method are nausea and vomiting. Levonorgestrel is the synthetic progesterone. The major benefits of levonorgestrel are the decreased side effects and greater contraceptive efficacy than Yuzpe regimen. Mifepristone (RU486) is a synthetic steroid that prevents progesterone from binding to the progesterone receptors and glucocorticoid receptors. It has been used extensively in Europe as an abortifacient and also has been used as an effective EC. Its common side effect is a delay in the onset of menses, leading to anxiety for the user. The intrauterine contraceptive device(IUCD) is the only method of emergency contraception available to women presenting beyond 72 h and within 5 days from unprotected intercourse. EC is not protective against infections such as STD(sexually transmitted diseases). There are many situations where EC is indicated, including condom rupture or slip, unplanned unprotected intercourse, incidental misuse of regular contraceptive methods, and sexual assault. Emergency contraceptive pills can prevent ovulation, but an alternative major mechanism of action is to prevent uterine implantation of the embryo at the endometrial level. A 3-week follow-up visit should be scheduled to assess the result and to counsel for regular contraception. EC provides a second chance at preventing undesired pregnancies. but it should not be used as a routine birth control method, because it is actually less effective and needs a higher dose at preventing pregnancies than most types of oral contraceptives. Widespread and appropriate use of EC will provide a promising means to reduce the incidence of unplanned pregnancy and to contribute to the women's health.
Anxiety ; Condoms ; Contraception ; Contraception, Postcoital ; Contraceptives, Oral ; Embryonic Structures ; Emergencies ; Ethinyl Estradiol ; Europe ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Levonorgestrel ; Methods ; Mifepristone ; Nausea ; Norgestrel ; Ovulation ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Unplanned ; Progesterone ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Rupture ; Vomiting ; Women's Health

No abstract available.
DNA* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

Using Avidin-Biotin immunoperaxidase method, we investigate the distribution patterns of factor VIII related antigen in various areas of skin lesions of 14 granuloma pyogenicum. and in the skin lesions of 5 capillary hemangioma and 5 normal skin. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Factor VIII related antigen was detected in 9 of 14 cases of granuloma pyogenicum, in 4 of 5 cases of capillary hemangioma, and in 5 of 5 cases of normal skin. 2. In the lesions of granuloma pyogenicum the areas with prominent capillary endothelial cell proliferation had less positivity than the vascular areas. And the areas with relatively large vesels in the lesions of granuloma pyogenicum had similar positivity as capillary hemangioma. 3. The lesions of granuloma pyogenicum and capillary hemangioma had less positivity than the vessels of normal derrnis.
Endothelial Cells ; Factor VIII* ; Granuloma* ; Granuloma, Pyogenic* ; Hemangioma, Capillary ; Skin ; von Willebrand Factor*

We have experienced 2 cases of lichen planus. Case 1 was a. 76-year-old male who has suffered from discrete, scaly, round to polygonal papules on the trunk and the e:xtremiities for 3 months. The VDRL test for syphilis was reactive at a titer of 1:2 and the TPHA test was positive. The skin lesions were responded to 3 weekly injections of benzathine penicillin 2.4 million units, Case 2 was a 17-year-old male who has suffered from discrete, erythematous to violaceous colored, flat papules on the right shin for several months. He has treated with oral medication of griseofulvin. After 2 weeks of the medication, the skin ]esions showed improvement with gradual reduction of pruritus and flattening of the papules. About one month of the medication, all skin lesions cliappeared with dark brownish hue and hypopigmentation. And recurreci lesions after stopping medication are disappeared after 2 months of retreatment with griseofulvin.
Adolescent ; Aged ; Griseofulvin ; Humans ; Hypopigmentation ; Lichen Planus* ; Lichens* ; Male ; Penicillin G Benzathine ; Pruritus ; Retreatment ; Skin ; Syphilis

No abstract available.
Child* ; Hand Injuries* ; Hand* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Monocytes and T helper cells play major roles in the immunologic dysfunction of atopic dermatitis (AD). Many studies have been done on the cytokine pattern to evaluate abnormalities or differences of immune cells in AD, but the results were conflicting among studies and most of these previous reports were performed with various kinds of mitogen-stimulation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate spontaneous cytokine pattern in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with AD. We focused on the expression of monokines that had effects on monocytes and T cells. METHODS: We measured mRNA expression of IL-10, GM-CSF and TNF-alpha in freshly isolated PBMC with semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The intensity of cytokine cDNA was normalized to that of beta-actin product as a standard marker. RESULTS: IL-10 mRNA expression was significantly enhanced in AD compared:with control subjects (p<0.05). Spontaneous mRNA expression of TNF-alpha was significantly lower in AD patients (p <0.01). The level of GM-CSF mRNA expression was heterogeneous and spontaneous mRNA expression was slightly increased in AD although the difference did not reach the level of statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Our data was able to represent in vivo cytokine expression state of PBMC in atopic dermatitis. Increased expression of IL-10 and GM-CSF may have been associated with monocyte dysfunction in AD although increase in the expression of GM-CSF mRNA was not statistically significant. TNF-alpha mRNA expression was decreased in AD and increased IL-10 was suggested to exert an inhibitory effect on the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA.
Actins ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; DNA, Complementary ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Monocytes ; Monokines ; RNA, Messenger* ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

No abstract available.
Nasal Cavity* ; Neurilemmoma*

No abstract available.
Abortion, Habitual* ; Female ; Immunization* ; Lymphocytes* ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to find the protective effects of garlic on the halogenated hydrocarbon induced hepatotoxicities, and the possible protection mechanisms involved. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats received garlic (0.5 %) or regular diet, for 4 weeks. This was followed by a single dose of corn oil (the controls), carbon tetrachloride (400mg/kg body weight) and trichloroethylene (2,000mg/kg body weight) being administered to each diet group. Blood samples were collected 24 hours following the administration, and the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities measured. The liver samples were studied for their cytochrome P450 and CYP2E1 contents, lipid peroxidation and histopathology. RESULTS: The results for the group receiving the 0.5 % garlic diet showed a slight decrease of CYP2E1 expression compared with the regular diet group. Carbon tetrachloride was significantly decreased the CYP2E1 contents in both the regular and garlic diet groups, but the trichloroethylene remained unchanged. Garlic did not decrease the lipid peroxidation of the liver in the control group, but attenuated the increase of lipid peroxidation caused by carbon tetrachloride. Garlic attenuated the increase of both the serum AST and ALT activities caused by carbon tetrachloride. The histopathological observations also showed that garlic attenuated centrilobular necrosis and vacuolar degenerative changes significantly in the carbon tetrachloride treated group. Conclusions : The results indicate that garlic attenuates the carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity, through the prevention of the metabolic activation and lipid peroxidation.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Biotransformation ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Carbon* ; Corn Oil ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Diet ; Garlic* ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver ; Male ; Necrosis ; Protective Agents ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Trichloroethylene

No abstract available.
Sarcoma*