OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic myomectomy by comparing with minilaparotomic myomectomy in terms of the operation time, hemorrhage, pain, complications and pregnancy rates after operation. METHOD: Total 56 patients who underwent myomectomy in Chonnam National University Hospital from January 1996 to December 2000 were included. 26 subjects underwent minilaparotomy and 30 subjects laparoscopic myomectomy respectively. The number, size and place of uterine myoma, the operation time required, hemoglobin reduction, and operation indication were compared. The frequency of analgesics application, the period without analgesics injection, complications, and pregnancy rates after operation were investigated. RESULTS: 1. The amount of hemorrhage and hemoglobin markedly decreased in laparoscopic myomectomy in comparison with minilaparotomy (P<0.01). 2. Analgesics were much less frequently used in laparoscopic myomectomy than minilaparotomy (P<0.01). Also Analgesics were injected for a significantly shorter period after laparoscopic myomectomy (P<0.01). 3. There was no significant difference in operation time, hospital period and complications rates between two groups. 4. Total 24 patients conceived after myomectomy. 12 of them belonged to minilaparotomy patients group and 13 patients to laparoscopic myomectomy group. 10 patients of the former and 11 of the latter were delivered of a baby through elective cesarean section and there was no significant difference. One to each group tried vaginal delivery, and there was no complication such as uterine rupture. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic myomectomy is a safe and effective to treat uterine myoma and better than minilaparotomy in terms of post operative pain and hemoglobin.
Analgesics ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Leiomyoma* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Uterine Rupture

Malignant transformation is a rare complication in a mature cystic teratoma of the ovary, usually being reported less than 2% of cases. The most common malignant tumor arising from a mature cystic teratoma of the ovary is a squamous cell carcinoma. However, adenocarcinoma is reported extremely rare, in most cases it was impossible to tell the source of the malignancy. We experienced a case of papillary carcinoma of thyroid glands arising from mature cystic teratoma of the ovary and report this case with a brief review of literature.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Papillary* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Female ; Ovary ; Teratoma* ; Thyroid Gland*

PURPOSE: This study was carried out to survey the serum anti-PRP titers after the completion of a primary series with 3 doses of the PRP-T conjugate vaccine(ACT-HIBTM), to evaluate the necessity of booster vaccination. METHODS: One hundred twenty healthy infants who went for consultations at Moon Hwa hospital between December 1999 to May 2001 were vaccinated at two, four and six months after birth. The serum antibody levels were measured at 7-8 months and 19-20 months of age by the "Farr" type of radioimmunological method at Aventis Pasteur International in France. RESULTS: The geometric mean of Anti-PRP titers were 24.6 microgram/mL at 7-8 months and then fell to 2.10 microgram/mL at 19-20 months. Minimum Anti-PRP titer was 0.75 microgram/mL at 7-8 months, and 0.1 microgram/mL at 19-20 months. Maximum Anti- PRP titer was 99.2 microgram/mL at 7-8 months, and 9.1 microgram/mL at 19-20 months. Subjects of Anti-PRP titers more than 0.15 microgram/mL were 100% at 7-8 months, and 97.0% at 19-20 months, and subjects of Anti-PRP titers more than 1.0 microgram/mL were 98.3% at 7-8 months, and 61.6% at 19-20 months. CONCLUSION: The Anti-PRP titers at 7-8 months were very high but rapidly decreased at 19-20 months of age, so the necessity of booster vaccination could be considered in Korean children.
Child ; France ; Haemophilus influenzae* ; Haemophilus* ; Humans ; Infant ; Parturition ; Referral and Consultation ; Vaccination*

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the systematic error, such as seasonal change or inadequate food items, in a food frequency questionnaire administered to workers in a Nuclear Power Plant, Korea. METHODS: We performed three repeat-tests with 28 subjects on May 13, July 8 and Dec 16, 1992. Our food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) comprised 84 foods organized into 7 food-groups, and was composed of the items of usual intake frequency (8 categories) and the amount per intake (3 or 4 categories) over the previous year. We compared the means of intake frequency and the frequency of the portion-size according to each season using Repeated Measures ANOVA and Pearson's chisquare test with Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: We found the significant seasonal changes of several food items in intake frequency measurement. These items were typical seasonal foods such as mandarin orange, plum and green vegetables, while the single questions consisted of inadequate food items such as thick beef or similar soup and various kimchi products. Significant seasonal changes in portion-size were found in only two items: cooked rice-brown and fresh.frozen fishes. CONCLUSIONS: The systematic errors observed could caused loss of validity in the FFQ. Consideration should be given for seasonal variation in FFQ survey and methodological concerns are needed to improve the quality for measuring usual diet pattern.
*Diet Surveys ; Humans ; Korea ; *Power Plants ; Questionnaires ; Reproducibility of Results ; *Seasons

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the linear sintering behavior of presintered zirconia blocks of various densities. The mechanical properties of the resulting sintered zirconia blocks were then analyzed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three experimental groups of dental zirconia blocks, with a different presintering density each, were designed in the present study. Kavo Everest(R) ZS blanks (Kavo, Biberach, Germany) were used as a control group. The experimental group blocks were fabricated from commercial yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia powder (KZ-3YF (SD) Type A, KCM. Corporation, Nagoya, Japan). The biaxial flexural strengths, microhardnesses, and microstructures of the sintered blocks were then investigated. The linear sintering shrinkages of blocks were calculated and compared. RESULTS: Despite their different presintered densities, the sintered blocks of the control and experimental groups showed similar mechanical properties. However, the sintered block had different linear sintering shrinkage rate depending on the density of the presintered block. As the density of the presintered block increased, the linear sintering shrinkage decreased. In the experimental blocks, the three sectioned pieces of each block showed the different linear shrinkage depending on the area. The tops of the experimental blocks showed the lowest linear sintering shrinkage, whereas the bottoms of the experimental blocks showed the highest linear sintering shrinkage. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, the density difference of the presintered zirconia block did not affect the mechanical properties of the sintered zirconia block, but affected the linear sintering shrinkage of the zirconia block.
Cyclic N-Oxides ; Zirconium

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many authors(Simmons,1973, McGath et al.,1989) described that a small percentage(1-2 %) of patients initially complaining of vertigo was found to have bilateral vestibular failure (BLVF). This study evaluates the findings of vestibular function test (VFT) including rotating chair test (ROT) and computerized dynamic posturography test (CDP) in the patients with BLVF demonstrated by caloric test and others. Method : 400 vertigo patients were given VFT from June,1994 to October,1995. In the patients who had absent or reduced responses (total eye speed <10 degrees per second) in cold (17 C) water caloric testing or decreased responses in the range of lower fequencies during ROT, we evaluated their VFT results and clinical features. RESULTS: There were 38 cases out of total 400 patients(9.5%). Many patients with BLVF had rotational response magnitudes (at 0.04 Hz and above) that were within normal limits. CBP has shown vestibular dysfunction patterns in 32 patients. Hearing tests were normal in 9 cases and mixed hearing loss in 2 cases. Many patients experienced several episodes of acute vertigo with persistent imbalance; Only 4 patients complained of persistent oscillopsia. Viral infection (vestibuloneuronitis), immune reactions and toxic factors may play a role in the etiology of this rare BLVF. CONCLUSION: Our incidence of 9.5% is much higher than what was reported in the literature. Herb medications and frequent injections of aminoglycosides may be responsible for this higher incidence of BLVF. ROT is useful in detecting and predicting the remaining vestibular function in the BLVF patients.
Aminoglycosides ; Caloric Tests ; Electronystagmography ; Hearing Loss, Mixed Conductive-Sensorineural ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Incidence ; Vertigo ; Vestibular Function Tests* ; Water

Little is known about processing mechanism of sensory input from the periodontal ligaments to the trigeminal motor nucleus for the control of chewing force and modulation of chewing pattern. Low threshold mechanoreceptive periodontal afferent was labeled with horseradish peroxidase by use of intra-axonal injection technique and investigated with electron microscopy. Quantitative ultrastructural analysis was performed on the 39 serially reconstructed labeled boutons in the trigeminal motor nucleus in cat. Labeled bouton contained clear spherical vesicles and one or two large dense cored vesicles. Most of labeled boutons were dome or round shape. All the analysed labeled boutons were presynaptic to dendritic shaft or distal dendrite and those presynaptic to soma or proximal dendrite were not observed. A large number of labeled boutons (46.2%) were postsynaptic to one or two presynaptic pleomorphic vesicle containing endings. Synaptic triad, in that a presynaptic ending which is presynaptic to the labeled bouton, in turn, is presynaptic to dendrite that is postsynaptic to the labeled bouton, was observed in 10.3% of the labeled boutons. Most of the labeled boutons showed simple synaptic organization, in that 64.1% of the labeled boutons made synaptic contacts with one or two neuronal profiles. One (2.6%) of the 39 analyzed labeled boutons showed synaptic contacts with 5 or more neuronal profiles. Labeled bouton volume, mitochondrial volume, apposed surface area and active zone area showed wide variation. These ultrastructural parameters were positively correlated with bouton volume. The values for apposed surface area and active zone area with presynaptic p-endings, in contrast to those with postsynaptic dendrites, showed narrow range and had little correlation with bouton volume. The present study revealed characteristic features on ultrastructural parameters of labeled boutons from periodontal afferent which is involved in periodontal masseteric reflex, and that influence on the postsynaptic trigeminal motoneurons showed wide variability.
Animals ; Carisoprodol ; Cats ; Dendrites ; Horseradish Peroxidase ; Mastication ; Microscopy, Electron ; Mitochondrial Size ; Neurons ; Periodontal Ligament ; Reflex ; Synapses

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the effects of chronic disease management program based on clinics for blood pressure control or glycemic control in patients with hypertension or type 2 diabetes mellitus in Incheon. METHODS: An observational follow up study was done on 11,501 patients registrated at clinics from January 1st to December 31st, 2010 in Incheon. Experience of education and mandatory laboratory tests were assessed with the registration data and income status was identified by National Health Insurance data. The odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were derived from logistic regression models. RESULTS: The experience of education has a positive effect for blood pressure control in the non-control group with hypertension at the time of registration (Odds ratio 1.357, confidence intervals: 1.112~1.655). The experience of mandatory laboratory tests has a positive effect for blood pressure control in the control group with hypertension at the time of registration (Odds ratio 1.738, confidence intervals: 1.387~2.178). But the effects of the experience of education and mandatory laboratory test in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were not identified. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed the relationship between the experience of education or mandatory laboratory testing and blood pressure control in patients with hypertension.
Blood Pressure ; Chronic Disease ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Logistic Models ; National Health Programs ; Odds Ratio

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Oxygen free radicals play an important role in acute pancreatitis. Pantoprazole as a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) has pancreatic anti-secretory effect and a pronounced inhibitory reactivity towards hydroxyl radicals. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of pantoprazole on the course of acute pancreatitis. METHODS: We conducted a prospective randomized trial involving 40 patients with acute pancreatitis. Patients were divided into two groups. One group received PPI and the other group did not receive PPI. In the PPI group, patients received pantoprazole 40 mg intravenously twice a day for fasting time, and then 40 mg orally twice a day until discharge. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics and laboratory markers between two groups. In the pantoprazole group, mean hospital stay was 7.4 days, time to start oral intake was 69.0 hours, and time to pain relief was 59.7 hours. Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score was 3.15 at admission day and 2.35 at discharge. On the other hand, in the non-pantoprazole group, mean hospital stay was 7.6 days, time taken to start oral intake was 71.4 hours, and time taken to pain relief was 61.8 hours. APACHE II score was 4.4 at admission and 2.85 at discharge. However, there were no significant differences between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with pantoprazole did not have influence on the clinical course of acute pancreatitis. But, considering it was a pilot study, large scale prospective trials will be needed.
2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles/therapeutic use ; APACHE ; Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alcohol Drinking ; Eating ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain Management ; Pancreatitis/*drug therapy/etiology ; Pilot Projects ; Prospective Studies ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to measure circulating levels of nitric oxide metabolites (nitrites) in the uteroplacental, fetoplacental, and peripheral circulation in women with normal pregnancy and preeclampsia. METHODS: Two groups of pregnant women were included : 20 patients with preeclampsia and 18 normotensive women. At cesarean, blood samples were taken from the antecubital vein and uterine vein draining the placental site before delivery of the baby, and the umbilical vein after delivery of the baby. Plasma nitric oxide concentrations were determined with the Griess reaction by measuring combined oxidation products of nitric oxide, plasma nitrite and nitrate after reduction with nitrate reductase. RESULTS: Significantly higher serum nitrite concentrations were found in umbilical (46.53+/-22.01 vs. 17.51+/-7.43 M/L, p<0.05), uterine (51.78+/-14.19 vs. 21.23+/-11.6 M/L, p<0.05) and antecubital (66.41+/-20.87 vs. 21.26+/-9.54 M/L, p<0.05) venous plasma in the preeclamptic group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: We observe higher levels of nitirc oxide metabolites in the uteroplacental, fetoplacental, and peripheral circulation in women with preeclampsia than in normal pregnancy. These results support the hypothesis that increased nitric oxide production may be a compensatory response to improve blood flow and offset the pathologic effects of preeclampsia.
Female ; Humans ; Nitrate Reductase ; Nitric Oxide* ; Plasma* ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Umbilical Veins ; Veins