OBJECTIVE: We performed the transvaginal ultrasonographic evaluation of uterine cervix and fetal fibronectin in cervicovaginal secretions in women after 37 complete weeks of gestation to predict the onset of labor. METHODS: Total 80 primiparous or multiparous women were divided into two groups on the duration between evaluation and onset of labor. The biometric analysis of uterine cervix(cervical index, endocervical length, funneling, funnel length and width) was done by transvaginal ultrasonography. The cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin was measured by fetal fibronectin immunoassay (ELISA kit, Adeza Biochemical, USA). The efficacy of these method was analyzed with Pearson chi-square test, receiver-operator characteristic curves, and multiple logistic regression test. RESULTS: 1) There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics between two groups. 2) Group 1(onset of labor within 7 days after evaluation) showed significantly shorter endocervical length(Group 1: 2.33+/-0.75cm,Group 2: 2.93+/- 0.42cm, p=0.013), higher value of cervical index(Group 1: 1.27+/-0.67, Group 2: 0.62+/-0.34, p=0.008) and higher level of fetal fibronectin(Group 1: 98.65+/-11.34ng/ml, Group 2: 13.37+/- 2.7ng/ml, p=0.004). 3) The ROC curve analysis showed that a level of endocervical length <2.64mm, cervical index> 0.7, fetal fibronectin> 60ng/ml had the diagnostic performance in predicting group 1. Fetal fibronectin level in cervicovaginal secretion> 60ng/ml showed the highest diagnostic index in predicting the onset of labor within 7 days(p<0,001, odds ratio=21.3). CONCLUSION: Cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin predicts delivery within 7 days more accurately than cervical index, endocervical length. Combine use of these tests improve the diagnostic efficiency and allowed prediction of onset of labor, identifying a subgroup of patients who may require aggressive treatment.
Cervix Uteri ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Female ; Fibronectins* ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Logistic Models ; Pregnancy* ; ROC Curve ; Ultrasonography*

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficiency, success rate and abortion time between the live and the dead fetus in second trimester pregnancy termination with intravag-inal misoprostol. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 45 pregnant women between 18-29 weeks of gestation with medical, obstetric, or genetic reasons for termination were recruited to receive 50 ug misoprostol inserted intravaginally (posterior fornix) every 4 hours. RESULTS: The success rate of complete termination(abortion) within 12 and 24 hours in dead fetuses were 78.2% and 95.6%, respectively, while in live fetuses were 36.3% and 90.9%, respectively. The mean abortion time of the dead fetus group (10.31+/-3.43 hours) was significantly less than that of the live fetus group (14.20+/-3.31 hours). No serious complications occurred in terms of hemorrhage, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. CONELUSION: Intracervicovaginal misoprostol is a safe and effective method for second trimester pregnancy termination. The abortion time is less in dead fetus pregnancy than that in the live fetus pregnancy.We used 50 ug tablets of misoprastol every four hours. But, we suspect that the regimen of 100ug misoprostol inserted intracervicovaginally every eight hours will beis the proper and optimal method for pregnancy termination.
Diarrhea ; Female ; Fetus* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Misoprostol* ; Nausea ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Pregnant Women ; Tablets ; Vomiting

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Insulin* ; Lipoproteins* ; Pregnant Women* ; Triglycerides*

No abstract available.
Colorectal Surgery*

BACKGROUND: The differentiation between basal cell carcinoma(BCC) and trichoepithelioma(TE) is sometimes difficult clinically and histologically, and their differentiation is important since their treatment and prognosis are sometimes different. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate whether there was a difference in CD34 staining patterns in the stromas (immediate and distant stromas from the tumor lobules) of BCC and TE, since the histopathologic characteristics of the stromas are one of the most important features to differentiate the two tumor. METHOD: We perfomed immunoperoxidase staining(modified ABC technique) by using a monoclonal anti CD34 antibody(QBEND10, IgG1) on the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens of 11 BCC as and 10 TEs. RESULTS: 1. In the immediate strcimas, spindle-shaped cells were stained in 4 out of ll cases of BCC and in 9 out of 10 cases of TE. However, the staining patterns observed in the 4 cases of BCC were all loosely scattered, week staining, while those of the 9 cases of TE were all densely compact, strong staining. CD34 was not expressed in one case of TE. 2. In the distant stromas, all cases of BCC and TE showed staining of loosely scattered spindle-shaped cells, and there was no difference in staining patterns of the two tumors. 3. Papillary mesenchymed bodies were observed in 8 cases of TE and in none of BCC, and they expressed CD34 focally. CONCLUSION: CD34 sta ining patterns of the immediate peritumoral stromas of BCCs and TEs were different and could differentiate the two tumors.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Prognosis

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Humans ; Laparotomy* ; Ovarian Neoplasms*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Empyema* ; Muscle, Skeletal*

The etiology of nephrotic syndrome in unknown. The characterization were proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, generalized edema and hyperlipidemia. To assess the recurrence factors in the nephrotic syncrome, we measured serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM), albumin, complement, cholesterol and the 24-hour total urine protein at the initial relapse of nephrotic syndrome. Each data of frequent and infrequent relapsed nephrotic syndrome were compared. In total 67 cases, 18 cases were frequent relapsers and 26 cases were infrequent relapsers and 23 cases were normal control without renal disease. The levels of IgG and albumin in frequent relapser were 304 mg/dl and 1.59 g/dl as compared with 440 mg/dl and 2.06 g/dl in infrequent relapsers. The levels of IgG and albumin were signifecantly lower in frequent relapser than infrequent relapsers (p<0.05). This study might be useful to predict that very low levels of IgG and albumin at the first relapse might be related to high risk chances of frequent relapse in children with nephorotic syncrome.
Child ; Cholesterol ; Complement System Proteins ; Edema ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Immunoglobulins ; Nephrotic Syndrome* ; Proteinuria ; Recurrence*