PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether radiation adaptive response could be induced by Tc-99m-methylene diphosphonate (Tc-99m-MDP) in peripheral lymphocytes of patients undergoing bone scintigraphy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lymphocytes from 22 patients (6 males, 16 females, mean age 50+/-14 years) were collected before and after bone scintigraphy using 740 MBq Tc-99m-MDP. Lymphocytes from 10 controls (6 males, 4 females, mean age 43+/-7 years) were also collected. They were exposed challenge dose of 2 Gy gamma rays using a cell irradiator Number of ring-form and dicentric chromosomal per 600 cells (chromosomal aberrations) was counted under the light microscope. RESULTS: Chromosomal aberrations in patients before bone scintigraphy (385.1+/-30.5) was not different from that of controls (367.8+/-36.6). However, chromosomal aberrations in patients after bone scintigraphy was significantly decreased 192.6+/-22.1 (p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: Low dose gamma-irradiation by Tc-99m-MDP used for bone scintigraphy induces a cytogenetic adaptive response in peripheral lymphocytes.
Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetics ; Female ; Gamma Rays ; Humans ; Lymphocytes* ; Male ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate

The aim of present study was to determine the efficacy of immunotherapy with paternal lymphocytes for unexplained infertility. It has been apparent that reproductive success may be affected by the presence of abnormal autoantibodies. Unexplained infertility and repeated pregnancy wastage has been reported in the presence of abnormal autoantibodies. These data suffest that abnormal immune function may be an important pathologic entity contributing subfertility in patients with unexplained infertility. Therefore, immunotherapy may be a possible treatment modality for patients with unexplained infertility. Some investigators have reported that a proportion of infertile couples with repeatedly unsuccessful ET showed close histocompatibility similar to those of spontaneous recurrent abortion. Recently, it has been noted that immunotherapy with paternal lymphocytes achieves a high efficacy in preventing subsequent abortion in women with primary recurrent abortion of unknown cause, which was mediated by immune reaction including blocking antibody. To substantiate the hypothesis, we applied immunotherapy preceding Peritoneal Oocyte and Sperme transfer (POST) to 43 patients, 47 cycles of 82 patients, 89 cycles with at least three previous IUI failure from April, 1993 to February, 1995. There were no significant differences between treatment and control group in clinical response and hormonal response to controlled hyperstimulation. there was no significant difference between treatment and control group in pregnant rates per cycles (42.6% versus 28.6%), but a significantly lower abortion rate per pregnancy in treatment group, with 10.0% (2/20) compared with 50.03% (6/12) in control group. This study may suggest that immune therapy for patients with unexplained infertility with paternal lymphocytes might be beneficial.
Abortion, Habitual ; Abortion, Induced ; Autoantibodies ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Histocompatibility ; Humans ; Immunotherapy* ; Infertility* ; Lymphocytes* ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy ; Research Personnel ; Spermatozoa

Dieulafoy's vascular malformation is a rare cause of massive gastrointestinal bleeding. Most often it occurs in stomach within 6 cm from the gastroesophageal junction. Only a few cases have been reported to occur in the small intestine and colon. Occasionally, Dieulafoy's lesion of small intestine is difficult to recognize because of rarity, a paucity of symptoms and negative findings on barium studies. Therefore, this lesion needs to be considered in a patient with massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding. We report a case of Dieulafoy's vascular malformation in ileum 2 m proximal to ileocecal value in a 41-year-old woman who visited emergency clinic because of hematemesis, dizziness and vomiting. Small intestine revealed a wide-caliber artery within the submucosa showing intimal thickening, medial muscular hypertrophy and thrombosis.
Adult ; Arteries ; Barium ; Colon ; Dizziness ; Emergencies ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Female ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Ileum* ; Intestine, Small ; Stomach ; Thrombosis ; Vascular Malformations* ; Vomiting

Anti-E and anti-c is one of the clinical significant irregular antibodies developing a delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction and hemolytic disease of the newborn. Since anti-c occurs frequently with anti-E in immunized people whosoe cells are E-and c-, it has been recommended to select blood of the patient's own R1 phenotype for transfusion, even when the presence of anti-c cannot be demonstrated in his/her serum. To determine the utility of this approach, we reviewed the blood bank laboratory records of patients identified anti-E and anti-c in his/her serum in Severance hospital over a 12 year period (1985-1996). During the 12-year period of study, 53 patients were identified with anti-E and/or anti-c; 30(56.6%) patients had anti-E alone, 6(11.3%) had anti-c, and 17(32.1%) had both. Thirty eight of forty two patients whose Rh-hr phenotypes were tested were R1R1. Of these 38 R1R1 patients, 16 patients (42.1%) presented with anti-c concomitant with anti-E. Ouru study showed that the incidence of antni-c in R1R1 patients with anti-E is similar to that of studies reported in Caucasian groups. We highly suggest the transfusion protocol of prophylactic use of c negative blood for R1R1 patients with anti-E. Furthermore, because anti-c may be present in concentrations too low to be detected, the enzyme technique is recommended in parallel with standard serologic methods for the identification of irregular antibodies.
Antibodies ; Blood Banks ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Phenotype

Hailey-Hailey disease(benign familial chronic pemphigus) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by blisters at sites of friction such as the neck, axillae and groin which are caused by suprabasal epidermal acantholysis. We report two cases of Hailey-Hailey disease in the one family. One of the two cases has asymptomatic multiple longitudinal white bands in the fingernails associated with typical skin lesions. The nail lesions have not been described until reported by Burge in 1992 and it may be a characteristic finding in Hailey-Hailey disease.
Acantholysis ; Axilla ; Blister ; Friction ; Groin ; Humans ; Nails ; Neck ; Pemphigus, Benign Familial* ; Skin

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between radiation-induced activation of DNA repair genes and radiation induced apoptosis in A431 cell line. MATERALS AND METHODS: Five and 25 Gys of gamma radiation were given to A431 cells by a Cs-137 cell irradiator. Apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry using annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide staining. The expression of DNA repair genes was evaluated by both Northern and Western blot analyses. RESULTS: The number of apoptotic cells increased with the increased radiation dose. It increased most significantly at 12 hours after irradiation. Expression of p53, p21, and hRAD50 reached the highest level at 12 hours after 5 Gy irradiation. In response to 25 Gy irradiation, hRAD50 and p21 were expressed maximally at 12 hours, but p53 and GADD45 genes showed the highest expression level after 12 hours. CONCLUSION: Induction of apoptosis and DNA repair by ionizing radiation were closely correlated. The peak time of inducing apoptosis and DNA repair was 12 hours in this study model. hRAD50, a recently discovered DNA repair gene, was also associated with radiation-induced apoptosis.
Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line* ; DNA Repair* ; DNA* ; Flow Cytometry ; Gamma Rays ; Humans* ; Propidium ; Radiation, Ionizing

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the radiation adaptive response (RAR) in peripheral lymphocytes (PL) of patients induced by Tc.-99m MDP and Tc-99m DTPA scintigraphies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lymphocytes from 45 patients (25 males, 20 females, mean age 44+/-18 years) were collected before and after scintigraphies using 740 MBq Tc-99m MDP (n=22) or Tc-99m L)TPA (n=23). Lympho-cytes from 20 controls (12 males, 8 females, mean age 43+/-7 years) were also callected. They were exposed to challenge dose of 2 Gy gamma-rays using a Cs-137 cell irradiator, Number of ring-form (R) and dicentric (D) chromosomes was counted under the light microscope. From them a representative score, Ydr, was calculated as Ydr=(D+R)/cells. Adaptation index (AI) was defined as difference of Ydr between unconditioned and conditioned lymphocytes. Ydr was also measured after an administration of cyclohexi-mide (CHM), a protein synthesis inhibitor, before challenge dose. RESULTS: RAR was induced in both groups of patients. CHM abolished the adaptive response in both groups. AI of Tc-99m MDP group was significantly higher than that of Tc-99m DTPA group. CONCLUSION: Tc-99m MDP induced RAR was more prominent than those induced by Tc-99m DTPA.
Chromosome Aberrations ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes* ; Male ; Pentetic Acid* ; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate*

BACKGROUND: Infantile Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis (IHPS) is one of the most common surgical problems of early infancy and one for which an eminently successful surgical treatment has been available since the work of Ramstedt in 1912. A clinical study was begun to access further the accuracy of ultrasonography in identifying hypertrophic pylorus. METHODS: This study is a retrospective clinical analysis of 31 cases of IHPS treated at the Department of Surgery of Pohang St. Mary's Hospital from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 1997. RESULTS: (1) The most prevalent age group was between 3 weeks and 8 weeks in 24 cases (77.4%), and the ratio of males to females was 5.2:1. (2) Among the 31 cases, new born babies were 21 cases (67.7%). (3) In 30 cases (96.8%), the gestational age was between 37 weeks and 42 weeks, and the birth weight was more than 3.5 kg in 21 cases (67.7%). The body weight percentile at admission was lower than the 50 percentile in 31 cases. (4) Among the 31 cases, breast-fed infants were 15 cases (48.4%), milk-fed 13 cases (41.9%), and mixed-fed 3 cases (9.7%). B type blood group was 23 cases (74.2%), and O type was 4 cases (12.9%). (5) In 4 cases (12.9%), an inguinal hernia was noted as an associated anomaly. (6) The onset of symptoms was neonatal (1 week-12 weeks) in all 31 cases, and the duration of the symptoms was between 1 week and 2 weeks in 18 cases (58.1%). (7) Non-bile stained, projectile vomiting was noted in all 31 cases (100.0%), an olive-shaped mass in right upper quadrant of the abdomen was felt in 27 cases (87.1%), and visible peristalsis on the epigastrium was noted in 25 cases (80.6%). (8) On laboratory tests, 17 patients had leukocytosis, and anemia was observed in 2 cases. Hypokalemia was observed in 9 cases (29.0%), hypochloremia in 4 cases (12.9%), and moderate to severe alkalosis (CO2 content > 25 mEq) in 7 cases. (9) Among the 25 cases, for which an the ultrasonographic evaluation was performed, the length of the stenotic canal was from 16 mm to 20 mm in 23 cases (92.0%), and the thickness of the stenotic portion was from 5 mm to 6 mm in 21 cases (84.0%). (10) All 31 cases were surgically treated by using a Fredet-Ramstedt pyloromyotomy, and the mortality was nil. The average hospitalization was 9.4 days. (11) There was 1 case of duodenal perforation and 1 case of intermittent non-projectile vomiting after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that early accurate diagnosis, adequate preoperative preparation of the fluid & electrolyte imbalance, immediate surgical correction, and scheduled careful oral feeding are important in treatment of IHPS. Ultrasonographic determination of pyloric muscle length and thickness is the most accurate of the currently available techniques. A Fredet-Ramstedt pyloromyotomy is a safe and successful surgical procedure.
Abdomen ; Alkalosis ; Anemia ; Birth Weight ; Body Weight ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hernia, Inguinal ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypokalemia ; Infant ; Leukocytosis ; Male ; Mortality ; Peristalsis ; Pyloric Stenosis, Hypertrophic* ; Pylorus ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Vomiting

No abstract available.
Tissue Expansion Devices*

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate whether 1) estrogen induces the change of vascular tone in endothelium-denuded human uterine artery, and 2) endothelium-independent vascular reactivity may be mediated by intracellular calcium ion modulation. METHODS: The uterine arteries from 34 premenopausal women were obtained at the time of hysterectomy due to various indications and endothelium was denuded. Vascular reactivity was monitored by using Isometric force transducer and recorded by physiograph. Endothelial integrity was assessed by sequential administration of 1micrometer norepinephrine(alpha-adrenergic stimulant) and 10 micrometer acetylcholine (endothelium -dependent vasorelaxant). Integrity of smooth muscle was measured by administration of 10 micrometer sodium nitroprusside (endothelium - independent vasorelaxant) and 10 micrometer tamsulosin(alpha-adrenergic blocker). A dose-dependent action of estrogen was measured on denuded uterine arteries, pretreated with norepinephrine and potassium chloride. In media contained denuded uterine arteries pretreated with 70mM potassium chloride and estradiol(3X10-5M), nitric oxide and its inhibitor, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME) was administered, respectively, in order to verify the vasodilation effect. Statistical tests were performed at the 5% level of significance using the SPSS PC+ package. RESULTS: Acethylcholine has little effect but sodium nitroprusside & talmsulosin showed marked relaxation, which suggested loss of endothelial function and adequacy of smooth muscle function. The contraction by norephinephrine(1 M) revealed estrogen induced relaxation which was concentration-dependent from 3 10-8M to 3 10-5M in concentration of 17 -estradiol. The contraction by high potassium solution 70mM was also inhibited by estrogen in concentration-dependent manner. This vasorelaxant effect of estrogen on endothelium-denuded uterine artery was not affected by addition of nitric oxide(NO) precursor, L-arginine and nitric oxide synthase(NOS) inhibitor, L-NAME. CONCLUSION: The results of this study revealed that estrogen has vasorelaxant effect on endothelium endothelium-denuded uterine artery by calcium antagonistic property through direct inhibitory effect on receptor- and voltage dependent calcium ion channels of smooth muscles. This vasorelaxant effect of estrogen on endothelium-denuded uterine artery was NO independent.
Acetylcholine ; Arginine ; Calcium ; Calcium Channels ; Endothelium* ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Humans* ; Hysterectomy ; Muscle, Smooth ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitroprusside ; Norepinephrine ; Potassium ; Potassium Chloride ; Relaxation ; Transducers ; Uterine Artery* ; Vasoconstriction* ; Vasodilation