No abstract available.
Ascites* ; Intussusception*

OBJECTIVE: To obtain clinically useful data regarding prenatal diagnosis, proper antepartum counseling and obstetric management in pregnancies with fetal dysplastic kidney disease. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 13 cases of MCDK(Multicystic dysplastic kidney) and PCDK(Polycystic dysplastic kidney), diagnosed by antenatal ultrasound and delivered from June 1994 through July 1999 at Ajou University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, with regard to prenatal ultrasonographic findings, perinatal outcomes, maternal complications and associated fetal anomalies. RESULTS: The incidence of MCDK and PCDK was one in 1,066 and one in 2,398 births, respectively. Of the 9 cases of MCDK, one case was terminated due to severely associated anomaly, and 6 cases were delivered by spontaneous labor or pitocin induction at term, of which 1 case was delivered by pitocin induction at 36 weeks gestation due to intrauterine fetal death. Two cases were delivered by cesarean section. There were no neonatal deaths in 7 cases of MCDK and they have been followed up to date, and alive. Of the 4 cases of PCDK, 3 cases were terminated by induced abortion or induced vaginal delivery, and 1 case was delivered by cesarean section, which was combined with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and the baby died within 24 hours after birth. Perinatal complications consisted of small for gestational age, urinary tract infection, hydronephrosis, acute respiratory failure, acute renal failure, periventricular hemorrhage and laryngomalacia in the neonatal period. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that antenatal ultrasonography and genetic analysis to evaluate accurate diagnosis and associated anomalies should be performed to manage and councel properly the pregnancies with fetal dysplastic kidney disease.
Abortion, Induced ; Acute Kidney Injury ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; Cesarean Section ; Counseling ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Gestational Age ; Gynecology ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Incidence ; Kidney Diseases* ; Kidney* ; Laryngomalacia ; Obstetrics ; Oxytocin ; Parturition ; Pregnancy* ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract Infections

Congenital diaphragmatic eventration is an abnormal elevation of the diaphragm as a result of developmental failure of muscular fibers during the fetal period. Mediastinal shift to the contralateral side may cause significant compression of the affected chest contents resulting in compromised pulmonary function especially when bilaterally involved. The differentiation between congenital diaphragmatic eventration and diaphragmatic hemia is very difficult but eventration has a better perinatal outcome compared to diaphragmatic hernia. We report a case of congenital diaphragmatic eventration on left side with good perinatal outcome after plication in which the initial prenatal diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia was made by prenatal ultrasonography.
Diaphragm ; Diaphragmatic Eventration* ; Hernia, Diaphragmatic* ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Thorax ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

Colorectal cancer during pregnancy is rare but the trend for women to delay pregnancy until later in life may result in increased incidence of colorectal cancer during pregnancy. The most common symptoms are rectal bleeding, abdominal discomfort, abdominal distension, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, constipation, anemia and weight loss. Rectal bleeding, if it is occurred, is often attributed to hemorrhoids, a common finding of pregnancy and many of these symptoms are commonplace in normal pregnancy. This delays diagnosis of colorectal cancer during pregnancy and leads to more advanced stage and poor prognosis compared to the general population. We experienced a woman at 27 weeks gestation who complained of low abdominal distention and was diagnosed of sigmoid colon cancer and underwent cesarean section and hemicolectomy at 30 weeks gestation, so we present it with brief review of literature."
Anemia ; Anorexia ; Cesarean Section ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Constipation ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhoids ; Humans ; Incidence ; Nausea ; Pregnancy* ; Prognosis ; Sigmoid Neoplasms ; Vomiting ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study is to determine the efficacy of rapid karyotyping from fetal ascitic fluid. METHODS: In three cases of isolated fetal ascites diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography, ultrasound guided fetal paracentesis and amniocentesis were performed and successfully obtained. Fetal karyotyping in each case at 29, 30 and 32 weeks gestation using modified lymphocyte culture method was conducted. RESULTS: The chromosomal analysis was successful within 72 hours and abnormalities were detected in two cases and revealed trisomy 21 in each case. Our study demonstrated that the majority distribution of white blood cells was lymphocytes which ranged from 2.1 * 10(6) cells/ml to 3.7 * 10(6) cells/ml and the cell density for culture was at least than 0.35 * 10(6) cells/ml. CONCLUSION: The use of ascitic fluid as a cell source to achieve rapid fetal karyotyping can be valuable when cordocenteis or amniocentesis would be technically more difficult, or when rapid result is required for planning of perinatal management at late second or third trimester gestational age.
Amniocentesis ; Ascites ; Ascitic Fluid* ; Cell Count ; Cytogenetics* ; Diagnosis* ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocytes ; Paracentesis ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

Twin pregnancy is at increased risk for congenital anomalies. Although twins were relatively infrequent, they accaunted for a disproportionately large portion of adverse pregnancy outcome, primarily as a consequence of preterm delivery, gestational diabetes, and pregnancy induced hypertension. In case of twin pregnancy with a single anomalous fetus, the clinicians are faced with difficult decision-making processes regarding the route of delivery, when to deliver, how aggressively to attempt to prevent delivery. Twin pregnancy discordant for a fetal abnormality can be managed expectantly or by selective fetocide of abnormal twin. Recently we experienced two cases of twin pregnancy with a single anornalous fetus. We reported cases with concerned literatures.
Diabetes, Gestational ; Female ; Fetus* ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy, Twin*

Apoptosis is an intrinsic and fundamental biological process that plays a critical role in the normal development of multicellular organisms and in maintaining tissue homeostasis. Some of the well known regulators of apoptosis are cytokines of the tumor necrosis factor(TNF) ligand family, such as Fas ligand(Fas L) and TNF, which induce apoptosis by activation of their corresponding receptors, Fas and TNFR-1. Recently, a new member of the TNF family known as TRAIL (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) was identified and shown to induce p53-independent apoptosis in a variety of tumor cell lines but not in normal cells, Four human receptors for TRAIL were also recently identified and designated TRAIL-R1, -R2, -R3, and -R4. The aim of this study is to examine whether TRAIL and TRAIL receptots(-R1, -R2, -R3) are expressed in uterine cervical cancer and whether it is correlated with apoptosis, TRAIL and TRAIL receptors. The subjects were 20 patients who were diagnosed with cervical cancer. Western blotting was performed in 9 cases, immunohistochemical staining for TRAIL and TRAIL receptors(-R1, -R2, -R3) and TUNEL method for detection of apoptosis in 11 cases. There were proteins for TRAIL, TRAIL-R1, -R2, and -R3 in tissues from cervical cancer. All TRAIL receptors were expressed in both normal cervical epithelium and tumor cells, and TRAIL-Rl and -R2 were more strongly expressed in tumor cells than normal epithelium(p<0.05). Apoptosis correlated with expression of TRAIL-Rl and -R2(p<0.05). This study suggests that TRAIL induces apoptosis in cervical cancer through its receptors.
Antigens, CD95 ; Apoptosis ; Biological Processes ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cytokines ; Epithelium ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Necrosis ; Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: Nonimmune hydrops fetalis has become an important perinatal problem since it was first described in 1943. Although recent advances in antenatal ultrasound have made it possible to detect and manage nonimmune hydrops fetalis in early pregnancy, the perinatal mortality is still high. OBJECTIVE: To obtain clinically useful data regarding antenatal diagnosis, management, and perinatal outcomes of nonimmune hydrops fetalis, and to assist clinicians offer proper antepartum counseling and obstetric management which may be able to improve prognosis. Study design: We retrospectively reviewed 33 cases of nonimmune hydrops fetalis delivered in our hospital over a 4-year period. RESULTS: The antenatal diagnosis was possible by ultrasonography in all cases. Accumulation of fluid in fetal serous cavity and generalized skin edema were observed in all cases. A probable etiology was found in 23 (69.7%) cases through ultrasonography, various laboratory studies including fetal karyotyping, and autopsies. These were cardiovascular (4), respiratory (6), chromosomal (4), skeletal (1), and others (8). Despite extensive diagnostic studies, no definite etiology was found in 10 (30.3%) cases. Excluding the ten fetuses delivered after induced abortion, eight infants were born alive and six died in the neonatal period. The mortality rate was 91.3% (21/23). CONCLUSION: Nonimmune hydrops fetalis represents a very poor perinatal outcome. It is suggested that to improve the prognosis, various antenatal and postnatal approaches to find associated etiologic factors should be performed, and intensive perinatal cares are needed.
Abortion, Induced ; Autopsy ; Counseling ; Edema ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Hydrops Fetalis* ; Infant ; Karyotyping ; Mortality ; Perinatal Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study attempts to determine the endocrinologic characteristics and changes in glucose metabolism before/during pregnancy according to different body weights in women with Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: 94 women dia with PCOS were evaluated through measuring serum hormone levels and oral glucose tolerance tests preconceptionally and gestationally. RESULTS: In patients who were of normal weight showed significantly increased serum LH levels compared to those who were overweight (12.8+/-0.9 Vs. 7.1+/-0.8 mIU/ml, p= 0.000), and the serum levels of insulin was increased significantly in the overweight group (7.1+/-0.7 Vs. 15.2+/-2.8 ulU/ml, p= 0.000). the IGFBP-I (32.8+/-10.6 Vs. 8.3+/-2.5 ng/ml, p=0.034) and SHBG (55.8+/-4.2 Vs. 37.1+/-3.1 nmol/ml, p= 0.001) were significantly lower in the ovnweight group. The oral glucose tolerance test before/after pregnancy showed increased frequency of abnormal glucose metabolism, in both of the non-obese group (38.8%, 26,9%) and the obese group (64.2%, 53.9%) compared with normal population. CONCLUSION: It is thought that in the normal weight group with polycystic ovarian syndrome androgen production is stimulated in the theca cells by abnormally high LH secretion, while in the overweight group the hyperinsulinemia state which decreases the SHBG and IGFBP-I, lead to increase biologically active hee androgens and IGF-I and increase insulin binding to its receptor. And during/before pregnancy, women with PCOS showed that incidence of abnormal glucose metabolism was significantly increased in both of non-obese and obese groups.
Androgens ; Body Weight ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; Incidence ; Insulin ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Metabolism* ; Obesity ; Overweight* ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* ; Pregnancy* ; Theca Cells

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) on embryonal development in in vitro culture. METHODS: This is designed in vitro model using eggs from mouse. The eggs from mouse were assigned 29 for control group, 53 for 20 ng/ml of LIF, 88 for 40 ng/ml of LIF, 68 for 80 ng/ml of LIF respectively for in vitro fertilization. And 26 fertilized eggs at 2 cell stage from mouse also were assigned. The mouse embryos of all groups were cultured in medium supplemented with LIF in different concentrations, whereas the eggs in control group was cultured in medium without supplement of LIF. RESULTS: At 72 hours culture of eggs from in vitro fertilization, there was a slight increas in rate of embryonal development to morula in both LIF-20 and LIF-40 as results of 64.15% and 75% respectively, while 42.65% in inferior rate of LIF-80, compare with 51.72% in control group. But the difference between these each groups were not significant in statistically (p< or =0.05). And after 96 hours culture of eggs, the rates blastocyst formation was significantly higher in both LIF-20 and LIF-40 as 56.6% and 63.63% than those in control and LIF-80 as 44.83% and 35.29% respectively. On culturing eggs from in vivo fertilization, the rates of blastocyst formation was significantly not only higher as 85% and 81.81% respectively in medium supplemented with LIF-40 and LIF-80 than 42.3% in LIF-20 but also embryonal cell viability were remakedly improved at 96 hours after culture. CONCLUSION: The LIF in low dose is embryotrophic, but LIF in high dose is embryotoxic on eggs from in vitro fertilization. Whereas on culturing eggs from in vivo fertilization, LIF is more beneficial with dose dependent in high concentration.
Mice ; Animals