Hemorrhoid and anal fissure are common diseases in Korea. It has been demonstrated that patients with hemorrhoidal disease have increased activity of the internal anal sphincter. The fissure causes increased contraction in the internal anal sphincter, thereby increasing pressure in the anal canal. Many studies have reported differences in the anal canal pressures between males and females. Moreover, some papers have shown that sphincter pressures decrease with age. But the majority of these studies were not specific for the hemorrhoid and anal fissure. Therefore, we studied the effect of age and gender on anal pressure in hemorrhoid and anal fissure. Two hundred ninety six patients with hemorrhoid and sixty eight patients with anal fissure were retrospectively assessed. Anorectal manometry using a radial eight-port catheter was performed during resting and squeezing maneuvers of the anal sphincter. In hemorrhoid reduction in maximal average resting(MARP) and squeezing pressure(MASP) were found from the sixth decade, however in anal fissure reduction in MARP and MASP were found in the third decade. In hemorrhoid significant decrease of MARP and MASP were noted in entire ages of female, however in anal fissure increase of MARP and MASP were noted in fifth and sixth decade of female. In conclusion, in hemorrhoid both resting and squeezing pressure decrease with age in female. In anal fissure both resting and squeezing pressure decrease in third decade and in male with fifth and sixth decade.
Anal Canal ; Catheters ; Female ; Fissure in Ano ; Hemorrhoids* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Manometry ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Gestational Age* ; Intracranial Hemorrhages*

OBJECTIVE: To establish the evaluation system of the quality of oocytes on the basis of the incidence of cumulus cells apoptosis, to investigate the relationships between the incidence of cumulus cells and the outcomes of IVF-ET. METHOD: Thirth-four cycles undergoing controlled ovarian hypersimulation for IVF-ET with tubal infertility (23 cycles) or unexplained infertility (11 cycles) were included in this study. Cumulus cell masses surrounding mature oocyte and co-culture of embryos with autologous cumulus cells during IVF-ET process. The incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells was assessed by apoptosis detection kit fluorescein. The effect of co-culture using cumulus cells and the incidence of cumulus cells apoptosis. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1. The incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells markedly increased in patients aged 40 or over, while the fertilization rate was greatly decreased in those age group. 2. Apoptosis in cumulus cells was found in both the fertilized oocytes and unfertilized oocytes, but the incidence of apoptosis was higher in unfertilized oocytes. 3. There is no clear correlation between apoptosis in cumulus cells and the number of oocytes retrieved. However, the incidence of apoptosis was increased when the number of oocytes retrieved was 5 and fewer in comparison with 6~10. 4. Embryo grade was significantly affected by the incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells. 5. Pregnancy rate of IVF-ET per cycle was 29.4%, and the pregnant group had the higher fertilization rate and a significantly lower incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells compared with the nonpregnant group. 6. When cumulus cells were used as helper cells in the co-culture of the embryo, in vitro activity of cumulus cells based on morphological change and proliferation did not influence the quality of embryo, but was closely associated with the implantation rate and pregnancy rate, which was enhanced when morphological changes and proliferation of cumulus cells was more active. 7. This difference in the outcome of IVF-ET according to in vitro activity of cumulus cells used for co-cultue was not associated with the incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells, but rather had likely relations with the different secretion pattern of protein, which may be an embryotrophic factor by cumulus cells. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells can be used in predicting oocyte qualities and the outcomes of IVF-ET. And the effect of co-culture largely depends on the in vitro activity of cumulus cells as well.
Apoptosis ; Coculture Techniques ; Cumulus Cells* ; Embryonic Structures ; Fertilization ; Fluorescein ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infertility ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy Rate ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer

No abstract available.
Ichthyosis, Lamellar*

Colon has the highest bacterial concentration in the gastrointestinal tract. When the colon is perforated, the operator has to decide whether to perform primary closure, resection with anastomosis, proximal colostomy, and exteriorizatoion. In this retrospective study, from October, 1993, through July 1998, 56 patient with panperitonitis due to colon perforation were operated at Ewha womans University medical center. The rectal perforation was limited the intraperitoneal portion. Our cases were divided into two groups. Group I included 34 patients who treated with one step operations of primaryrepair or resection anastomosis. Group II included 22 patients who treated with two step operations of proximal colostomy or exteriorization. The one step operations were performed in 34 patients, proximal colostomy in 21 patients, and exteriorization in 1 patient. There was 13.7% in the incidence of motality and 33.3% in the incidence of morbidity. The Chi-square test was used to evaluate the significance of differences between two groups. Independent risk factors for adverse outcomes were compared and used to analyse the probability for adverse outcomes with respect to the mode of treatmen. The mode of treatment was not dependent on the risk factors. These results suggest that one could select positively primary closure or resection with anastomosis for the treatment of patients with panperitonitis due to colon perforation.
Academic Medical Centers ; Colon* ; Colostomy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Incidence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Natural cytotoxicity mediated by natural killer (NK) cells is believed to play an important role in host anticancer defense mechanisms. The aim of this study is to compare the number of NK cells in patients with colorectal cancer and hemorrhoids, and before and after surgery in patients with colorectal cancer. Twenty colorectal cancer patients and twenty hemorrhoid ones were studied. Venous blood samples were obtained preoperatively, and on the 7th, and 14th postoperative days. Mononuclear cells were isolated over Ficoll-Hypaque gradients, and T cells, B cells, and NK cells were measured with CD3 FITC (T cell), CD 19 PE (B cell), and CD56 FITC (NK cell) antibody, The number of T cell (/mm3) was 1224, 1280, and 1125 at preoperative, 7th, and 14th postoperative day in hemorrhoid patients and 1195, 901, and 1060 in colorectal cancer patients respectively. The number of B cell (/mm3) was 243, 160, and 250 in hemorrhoid patients and 147, 78, and 113 in colorectal cancer patients. The number NK cell (/mm3) was 148, 156, and 143 in hemorrhoid patients and 129, 85, and 128 in colorectal cancer patients. There was no difference among Dukes stages in the number of NK cells. In conclusion, the number of NK cells was not changed in colorectal cancer patients compared with hemorrhoid ones. Major operation changed the number of NK cells in colorectal cancer patients.
B-Lymphocytes ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Defense Mechanisms ; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate ; Hemorrhoids ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural* ; T-Lymphocytes

No abstract available.
Teratoma*

PURPOSE: Tumor invasion and metastasis are multistep phenomina, involving proteolytic degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) and alteration of cell adhesion. It is another oncologic therapeutic strategy to block tumor invasion and metastasis through analyzing the molecules which are involved in these processes. We examined the expressions of some of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in colorectal cancer and analyze the correlation with clinical factors and survival. METHODS: Fifty-five patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgical resection were included. The expressions of the MMP-2, -7, -9, and -12 in tumor tissue and normal mucosa using RT-PCR technique was carried out. We evaluated and analyzed the correlation among these molecules, clinical characteristics, and survival. RESULTS: Expressions of MMP-7, -9, and -12 were significantly higher in tumor tissue than in normal mucosa (P=0.00). The expressions of MMP-2 between cancer and normal mucosa had no significant difference but it had a significant difference according to the lymph node (LN) invasion (P=0.03) in tumor tissues. Three-year overall survival was worse in patient with high expression of MMP-2 compared to low expression. CONCLUSION: The expressions of MMP-7, -9, -12 in tumor tissue were higher than in normal mucosa and MMP-2 expression of tumor tissues had a significant difference according to LN invasion. MMP-2 overexpression seems to be a prognostic factor for 3-yr overall survival. But, large scale study with long term survival analysis will be needed for the prognostic significance of MMPs.
Cell Adhesion ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Extracellular Matrix ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis

In 12 cases of bladder tumor, 30cc of 2% methylene blue was introduced into the bladder, one hour previous to the transurethral biopsy, T.U.R. or segmental resection of the bladder, for the purpose of the staining of tumor tissue, and the following results were obtained. 1. This method was especially useful for the difference of tumor tissue in the cases of cystitis with tumor. 2. Most of the tumor tissue which was not covered with bladder mucosa stained in the deep blue so that one can easily identify tumor tissues from normal mucosa. 3. On operation, tumor masses could be resected easily because of obvious demarkation between the tumor mass and normal mucosa of the bladder. 4. In conclusion, this method was helpful to identify tumor tissues and useful for the removal of tumor remnants.
Biopsy ; Cystitis ; Methylene Blue* ; Mucous Membrane ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

No abstract available.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Humans ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor*