OBJECTIVE: The clinical value of preoperative serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen(SCC) in relation to clinical stage, tumor volume, disease extent and prognosis has already reported in many papers. The aim of this study is to analyse the relationship between preoperative SCC level and pelvic lymph node metastasis. Matrials and METHODS: From March 1995 to December 1998, 157 patients who examined pretreatment SCC levels before undergoing radical hysterectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix were included. The effect of pelvic lymph node status on the SCC level was examined by comparing 125 cases with cancer limited uterus or upper vagina and 32 cases with cancer confined to the uterus (including upper vagina) and pelvic lymph node using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: 90% of patients without pelvic lymph node metastasis showed SCC levels of 2.9ng/ml or below. 60.7% of patients with serum SCC level more than 2.9ng/ml exhibited pelvic lymph node metastasis. The marker values exceeding 2.9ng/ml increased risk of nodal metastasis 5 times compared with serum level 2.9ng/ml or below. Multivariate analysis confirmed that the pelvic lymph node metastasis had a large impact on the marker level than did tumor size or depth of stromal infilteration. CONCLUSION: SCC levels greater than 2.9ng/ml can be considered a high risk zone for nodal metastasis
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prognosis ; Tumor Burden ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* ; Uterus ; Vagina

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of tumor suppressor genes, p53 and Rb gene, as well as apoptosis in the carcinogenesis of ovarian epithelial tumors. And the value of these factors as prognostic markers to tell the transformation of borderline tumors to overt carcinomas is also studied. METHOD: Thirty cases of ovarian epithelial benign and borderline tumors and invasive carcinoma were used and the expression of the p53 protein and Rb gene protein were evaluated by immunohistochemical method. The apoptosis was evaluated by TUNNEL method. RESULTS: Positive rate of p53 expression in benign, borderline and invasive tumors were 0, 28, and 94 %, respectively. And also, p53 was highly expressed in chemoresistant cases (2/3), in residual tumor (4/5) and in recurred cancer (2/2). Rb protein was partly lost in the borderline tumors, but the rate of Rb protein loss in both borderline tumors and invasive carcinomas were similar. Apoptosis were more active in overt carcinomas than in borderline and benign tumors. In borderline tumors, p53 protein was expressed as 28.6% positivity, and apoptosis was expressed as 28.6% negativity, which showed indirectly that there was apoptosis induction effect of p53. In ten cases of invasive carcinomas showing highly expressed p53, apoptosis revealed all positive reaction except 2 cases, and Rb protein revealed variously. This result supported the apoptosis imduction effect of p53, but it was difficult to find the association of expression degree between the two tumor supressor genes CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the values of p53 is a discriminating factor of malignancy from benign and the expression of p53 is related with clinical aggressivity such as recurrence and residual cancers. Apoptosis are more active in overt carcinoma than in benign & borderline tumor, and in borderline tumor the expression of p53 is related to apoptosis induction which results to carcinomatous change.
Apoptosis* ; Carcinogenesis ; Genes, Retinoblastoma* ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Recurrence ; Retinoblastoma Protein

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is primarily influenced by environmental factors including exposure to pollutants and indoor allergens (particularly, house dust mites). Al-though house dust mite antigens are the most prevalent components of indoor allergens in Korea, cockroaches also can be considered to act as an important allergen. OBJECT: This study was done to evaluate the differences in three different atopic patch test (APT) techniques, and the relationship between APT and skin prick test, total IgE, and specific serum IgE level using cockroach allergen. Methods: We performed patch test in 57 patients with AD and 30 normal controls on clinically lesional and normal appearing skin with German cockroach (GC) allergens (extract, as is) in three different techniques (standard, scratch, DMSO). Reactions were evaluated after 48hours, and compared with the results of skin prick test, total and specific IgE levels. Detailed atopy history and severity scoring were taken. RESULTS: In the GC (whole body) prick test positive group, there was 1263.02 IU/ml of total IgE, and this amount was significantly higher than GC (whole body) prick test negative group who had 549.46 IU/ml (P<0.05). The positive reaction rate to whole body of American cock-roach (AC) was significantly higher in the patient group than control group (p<0.05), but the positive rate to whole body of GC was high, but not significantly high in the patient group (p=0.053). There were significant differences in positive patch test reactions to either Ext or As is between patient group and control group (p<0.05). The positive rate to As is was significantly higher than to Ext in either lesional skin or non-lesional skin in patient group (p<0.05). But there were no considerable differences in positive reactions to either Ext or As is between 3 different methods (standard, scratch, DMSO mix) in both lesional and non-lesional areas (p>0.05). There was no significant relationship between the positive reactions to patch test and prick test to Ext and As is antigen. The APT results showed no significant concordances with skin prick test and RAST for cockroach antigens. CONCLUSIONS: APT seems to be a different dimension of atopic skin inflammation and may pro-vide further diagnostic information in addition to a patient's history, skin prick test, and RAST results.
Allergens ; Blattellidae ; Cockroaches* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; Dust ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Patch Tests ; Pyroglyphidae ; Skin

Since 1970, the group B streptococcus(GBS) has been a significant cause of neonatal sepsis in the West. Two distinct forms of disease occur in neonates. Early-onset disease which occurs within 7 days after birth is characterized by respiratory distress, apnea, shock, pneumonia, and occasionally meningitis. Late onset disease usually occurs at 3-4 weeks of age(ranging from 7 days to 3 months) and presents occult bacteremia or meningitis. The GBS is thought to be a rare causative agent for neonatal sepsis in Korea. Lately, we experience a case of early-onset GBS sepsis who died at 3rd day of life. We present this case with brief review of literatures.
Apnea ; Bacteremia ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Meningitis ; Parturition ; Pneumonia ; Sepsis* ; Shock

Cyclopia is rare congenital craniofacial anomaly, in which the eyes are fused together and located in a single orbit. It is consistently associated with severe holoprosencephaly, which is the failure of cleavage of the prosencephalon with a deficit in the midline facial development. chromosomal study revealed 47, X( ), +13 (Patau syndrome).
Holoprosencephaly ; Orbit ; Prosencephalon ; Trisomy*

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is a pleomorphic sarcoma which most frequently arises in the soft tissue. About two-thirds of the tumors are located within skeletal muscle; relatively few cases have been reported arising in the skin. The micromorphology of the tumor is characterized by storiform histiocyte-like cells, malignant giant cells and bizzare mitoses. We report here a case of cutaneous MFH developed in xeroderma pigmentosum occurred in a middle-aged man.
Giant Cells ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Mitosis ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Sarcoma ; Skin ; Xeroderma Pigmentosum

Benzethonium chloride is quaternary ammonium compounds, which may cross-react with benzalkonium chloride. It has been used in the treatment of burns, ulcers, wounds, and infected dermatoses and also present in many cosmetics, deodorants, mouthwashes, dentifrices, lozenges, and ophthalmic preparations. Cetostearyl alcohol is used as emulsifiers and can be considered as preservatives. A 19-year-old female presented with well-demarcated adult-fist sized dark-reddish patch on the left shin. She had applied Senepul(R) (disinfectant solution) 3 months ago due to scratching wound and applied Travogen(R). Patch test with Korean standard series and the ingredients of used topical agents showed positive reactions to benzethonium chloride and cetostearyl alcohol.
Benzalkonium Compounds ; Benzethonium* ; Burns ; Dentifrices ; Deodorants ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Female ; Humans ; Mouthwashes ; Patch Tests ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ; Skin Diseases ; Ulcer ; Wounds and Injuries ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Peanut Hypersensitivity

OBJECTIVE: To estimate association between laboratory findings such as serum lipid panel, urine pH, alkaline phosphatase, lactic acid and chronic low back pain patients. METHOD: A sample (n=112) of blue color employees in an engineering company were divided into three groups, degenerative herniated disc patients, degenerative spondylosis patients and radiculopathy patients. Each group was examined for the correlation between several factors and chronic low back pain. Several factors including laboratory findings with serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, urine PH, alkaline phosphatase, lactic acid and smoking were analysed. RESULTS: There was no association between the baseline total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, urine pH, lactic acid and chronic low back pain. However, the triglyceride levels were significantly higher in degenerative herniated disc patients, degenerative spondylosis patients and smokers. CONCLUSION: High serum triglyceride predicted incident degenerative chronic low back pain.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Cholesterol ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Lactic Acid ; Low Back Pain ; Mass Screening ; Radiculopathy ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spondylosis

Although ventricular pacing alone initially had deemed adequate for most clinical situations, some patients did not do well after ventricular pacing was initiated, and developed various symptoms attributed to this mode of pacing. The pacemaker syndrome is complex of clinical signs and symptoms related to the adverse hemodynamic and electrophysiologic consequences of ventricular pacing in the absence of other causes. Neurologic symptoms or those congestive heart failure predominated. We recently experienced a case of pacemaker syndrome in a 44-year-old female who had suffered sick sinus syndrome and was implanted with dual chamber pacing system being programmed to VVI pacing. She complained of chest discomfort, dyspnea, and near-fainting in a day after being programmed to VVI. Blood pressure was decreased to 9/60mmHg. Electrocardiography showed toPwave onT wave, representing retrograde ventriculoatrial conduction. The symptoms and signs were disappeared immediately after the pacing system was programmed to DDD pacing.
Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane ; Dyspnea ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Sick Sinus Syndrome ; Thorax