OBJECTIVE: To estimate the predictive value of initial serum B-hCG and progesterone measurement for pregnancy outcome in IVF-ET. METHODS: Serum B-hCG at 11-12th day after embryo transfer and progesterone at 7th day after oocyte aspiration were measured in 48 successful pregnant IVF-ET cases from July 1993 to June 1997. RESULTS: Of 48 cases, 26 cases (54.2%) successfully carried to sustaining gestation and 22 cases (45.8%) failed to sustain gestation. The estimated initial serum B-hCG levels in the normal sustaining pregnancy group (132.28+ 22.42 mlU/ml) were statistical significantly higher than 29.43+8.08 mIU/ml in the failed sustaining pregnancy group (p<0.001), while the estimated initial serum progesterone levels showed no significant differences (p=0.159). In order to determine the predictive values using the Receiver Operator Curve (ROC), an appropriate cutoff value of 38 mIU/ml for initial serum B-hCG was obtained. In IVF-ET pregnancies, the estimated serum B-hCG levels in cases of chemical abortion in failed sustaining pregnancy were significantly lower compared to the normal sustaining pregnancy group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The initial serum B-hCG levels at 11 days after embryo transfer could be used to predict the pregnancy outcome in an IVF program. An initial progesterone level acquired on the 7th day after oocyte retrieval is not a useful indicator to predict pregnancy outcome.
Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Humans* ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Progesterone*

OBJECTIVES: This study was to determine whether drainage after radical hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy can reduce the risk of postoperative morbidity as compared with no drainage. METHODS: 165 patients with stage Ia2 to Ilb underwent radical hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy between January 1995 and May 1997, and those medical records were analyzed, Closed suction drains were placed in group I (n 102), not in group II (n 67). All surgeries were perforrned by the same surgeon in a uniform method. RESULTS: The characteristics of two groups were similar for mean age, preoperative weight, total protein, serum albumin, tumor cell histology, invasion depth, and tumor stage. There was no difference in mean operation time in two groups. But mean estimated blood loss was more in group I than group lI(p<0.05), Postoperative ileus and postoperative stay was similar in both groups. The incidence of pelvic lymphocyst and febrile morbidity in two groups were comparable with 17% in group I and 27% in poup II, but not statistically significant(p>0.05). Rehospitalization rate was higher in group I than in group II. CONCLUSION: Pelvic drainage didn't reduce the postoperative febrile morbidity and lymphocyst formation. Therefore the author could not find any necessity to perform the drainage following radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy.
Drainage* ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Ileus ; Incidence ; Lymph Node Excision* ; Medical Records ; Serum Albumin ; Suction ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

Primary malignant neoplasms of the heart are very rare disorders, which are found at less 1/1000 necropsies. These malignancies are almost exclusively sarcomas and histologically assume a wide veriety of morphological subtypes, angiosarcomas, rhabdomysarcomas, and fibrosarcomas(or MFH) being the most frequent. We experienced a case in which left atrial myxoma was suspected by 2-D echocardigraphy and the histologic diagnosis of promary MFH was confirmed by operation. A 45-year old woman with primary MFH arising from posterior wall of left atrium, interatrial septum and mitral annulus is presented with a brief view of the literatures. The patient was admitted to our hospital on March 1988, because of exertional dyspnea and intermittent palpitation resction of the masses. To date, more than thirteen months after surgery, the patient is alive and well in state of NYHA class II.
Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Atria* ; Hemangiosarcoma ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myxoma ; Sarcoma

No abstract available.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Stents*

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common non-epithelial neoplasm arising in the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation among the clinicopathologic features, presence of c-kit mutation, and immunohistochemical expression of c-kit in 61 cases of GISTs. METHODS: We divided the GISTs into three groups as benign, boderline and malignant, according to histologic grade. Exon 11 of the c-kit was amplified by PCR and sequenced. We performed immunohistochemical study for CD117, CD34, vimentin, SMA, desmin, and S-100 protein. RESULTS: Twenty-one cases were diagnosed as benign GISTs, 14 cases as borderline GISTs, and 26 cases as malignant GISTs. The shape, atypia, cellularity, and necrosis showed good correlations with the histologic grades of the GISTs.Mutations of exon 11 of the c-kit were detected in 3 benign GISTs, 4 borderline GISTs, and 13(%) malignant GISTs. Sequence analysis confirmed the deletion mutation (n=16) and the singlebase pair mutation (n=4). The immunohistochemical stainings showed myogenic differentiation(n=20), neurogenic differentiation (n=15), and neither myogenic or neurogenic differentiation(n=34). CONCLUSIONS: The GIST is the primitive mesenchymal tumor capable of divergent differentiation, and the mutation of the c-kit is a good parameter for the malignant GIST.
Desmin ; Exons ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Immunohistochemistry ; Necrosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; S100 Proteins ; Sequence Analysis ; Sequence Deletion ; Vimentin

BACKGROUND: Celiprolol is a beta-adrenergic blocker characterized by selective blokade of beta1 receptors and partial agonist activity at beta2 receptors. This study was designed to evaluate the antihypertensive efficacy, metabolic effects and safety of celiprolol in patients with essential hypertension. METHODS: Celiprolol 200mg was administered once daily in 20 hypertensive Korean adults(9 males and 11 females) for ten weeks with dose titration every 2 weeks. RESULTS: The supine blood pressure was decreased from 168.8+/-20.6/106.5/12.0mmHg(mean/S.D) to 131.2+/-12.8/88.2+/-7.9mmHg at the end treatment(P<0.05). Heart rate was not changed significantly throughout the period. Total cholesterol(TC) was decreased from 211.3+/-12.6mg/dl to 186.7+/-10.4mg/dl(P<0.05) and triglyceride(TG) from 223.7+/-24.5mg/dl to 198.4+/-12.9mg/dl after 10 weeks treatment(P<0.05). LDL(low-density lipoprotein)-cholesterol was decreased from 126.4+/-13.4mg/dl to 118.5+/-12.3mg/dl after 10 weeks treatment(P<0.05). During the period of the study, headache and fatigue developed in a few patient but were not troublesome enough to stop medication. CONCLUSIONS: Celiprolol 200mg once daily regimen was well tolerated and effective in the treatment of essential hypertensiove patients with favorable effects on blood lipids.
Blood Pressure ; Celiprolol* ; Fatigue ; Headache ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male

There has been a mistake, claimed and confirmed by all the authors of Vol 50(1), 2012, p10-20 issue, that first author should have been Chang-Gyu Lee instead of Jang-Hyun Paek.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the stress distribution in mandibular implant-supported overdentures and tooth-supported overdentures with telescopic crowns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The assumption of this study was that there were 2, 3, 4 natural teeth and implants which are located in the second premolar and canine regions in various distributed conditions. The mandible, teeth (or implants and abutments), and connectors are modeled, and analyzed with the commercial software, ANSYS Version 10.1. Stress distribution was evaluated under 150 N vertical load bilaterally on 3 experimental conditions - between canine areas, canine and 2nd premolars, 10 mm posterior to 2nd premolars. RESULTS: Overall, the case of the implant group showed more stress than the case of the teeth group in stress distribution to bone. In stress distribution to superstructures of tooth and implants, there was no significant difference between TH group and IM group and the highest stress appeared in TH-IV and IM-IV. The stress caused from bar was much higher than those of implant and tooth. TH group showed less stress than IM group in stress distribution to abutment teeth and implant. CONCLUSION: The results shows that it is crucial to make sure that distance between impact loading point and abutment tooth does not get too far apart, and if it does, it is at best to set abutment tooth on premolar tooth region. It will be necessary to conduct more experiments on effects on implants, natural teeth and bone, in order to apply these results to a clinical treatment.
Bicuspid ; Crowns ; Denture, Overlay ; Mandible ; Tooth

PURPOSE: To discribe the radiologic findings of idiopathic portal hypertension and to find the points of differentiation between idiopathic portal hypertension and liver cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four portogramsin five patients who for four years had suffered from pathologically confirmed idiopathic portal hypertension were retrospectively analyzed and compared with a portogram obtained from a cntrol subject with liver cirrhosis. RESULTS: Portographic findings of idiopathic portal hypertension were paucity of medium-sized portal branches, irregular and obtuse-angled division of peripheral branches, abrupt interruption and an avascular area beneath the liver margin. CONCLUSION: A portogram of idiopathic portal hypertension may be useful in differentiating this andliver cirrhosis.
Fibrosis ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal* ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Portography

Gastrointestinal duplication is a rare congenital anomaly which can occur anywhere along the digestive tract. The most common site is the mesenteric border of the terminal ileum. Intestinal duplication usually becomes symptomatic early in life with the severity of symptoms depending on the location and type of mucosal lining. Ectopic gastric mucosa is an associated possibility. Gastrointestinal hemorrhage is the most serious complication, which can cause severe anemia and shock. Another complication, although rare, is carcinoma in a duplicate cyst. We experienced an unusual case of a 12-years-old girl who presented with intermittent abdominal pain and hematochezia. There was no abnormality on Meckel's scan. Abdominal CT revealed a cystic mass in the pelvic cavity and subsequent transabdominal ultrasound showed the double-layered wall of the duplication. We performed laparoscopy-assisted, segmental resection of the ileum. The patient was discharged without any complication on the 7th postoperative day.
Abdominal Pain ; Anemia ; Child* ; Female* ; Gastric Mucosa ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Ileum ; Shock ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography