No abstract available.

Placental site nodules and plaques have been recently described to designated single or multiple, well-circumscribed, rounded lesions at the placental site, composed of viable or degenerating intermediate trophoblastic cells and extensive hyalinization between the cells. We described clinicopathologic findings of 14 cases of placental site nodules and plaques. The age of 14 patients ranged from 25 to 39(average 33) years and all of them had been pregnant in the past. Ten of them presented with vaginal spotting, which was preceded by recent pregnancy in only 3 cases. Three patients presented with secondary infertility and one with secondary infertility and vaginal spotting. Urine pregnancy tests were negative in all 14 cases at the time of presentation. Ultrasonographic examination disclosed abnormalities in only 3 cases and the remaining cases were normal. Hysterosalpingography was performed in 3 patients who presented with 2 degrees infertility and revealed moderate to severe intrauterine adhesions. Microscopically, chronic endometritis of varying degrees evidenced by plasma cells and eosinophiles were present in all cases and these were more prominent in the vicinity of the lesions. It is presumed that the placental site nodules and plaques are not sloughed at the time of menstruation and it may cause chronic endometritis or intrauterine adhesions at any time after previous delivery.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans

BACKGROUND: To examine serum Insulin-like growth factor-I(IGF-I) level in patients with knee osteoarthritis(OA) and to determine the relationship between the serum level of IGF-I with pain intensity and severity of OA knee. METHODS: Serum IGF-I levels measured by standard radioimmunoassay techniques were obtained from 30 knee OA patients and 30 normal controls matched by age and gender. Pain intensity was measured by pain rating scale(PRS) and visual analogue scale (VAS). Kellgren grade also used for assessing the severity of knee OA. RESULTS: No difference was found in serum IGF-I levels between the cases and controls(cases: 279+/-128 ng/dL, controls: 282+/-113 ng/dl). There was no correlation between pain intensity and serum IGF-I levels. There is no significant association between IGF-I level and Kellgren grade. CONCLUSION: Serum IGF-I level does not decrease in knee OA. The serum IGF-I levels can not indicate pain intensity and severity of knee OA.
Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Knee* ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteoarthritis, Knee* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Visual Analog Scale

PURPOSE: The globe luxation is a rare phenomenon in which there is a forward displacement of the eye ball so that the eye lids spasmodically close behind it. In Korea, no case has been reported. The authors experienced a case of globe luxation by laceration of the conjunctiva with trauma. METHODS: The authors experienced a case of globe luxation in 64-year-old male who had crushed with infantile marry-go-round handle and complained proptosis and ocular pain. Ocular examination revealed best corrected visual acuity of right eye 0.1, IOP 44mmHg, conjunctival hyperemia and laceration, extraocular muscle limitation in all direction. Exophthalmometer shows right eye 23mm, left eye 19mm. Orbital CT yielded proptosis and globe luxation without avulsion of internal and external rectus muscle and optic nerve. RESULTS: After the lateral canthotomy, we successfully treated with the corticosteroid therapy without visual impairment or eyeball movement disorder. we report a case of globe luxation with the review of literature.
Conjunctiva ; Exophthalmos ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Korea ; Lacerations ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Movement Disorders ; Optic Nerve ; Orbit ; Vision Disorders ; Visual Acuity

In the condition of diabetic retinopathy, the vascular changes are localized primarily in the retinal capillaries and are presumed to promote angiogenesis. To investigate the change of retinal blood flow velocities and morphological parameters in diabetic retinopathy, we measured perifoveal capillary blood velocities(v) and the size of foveal avascular zones(FAZ). Thirteen patients with diabetic maculopathy and nine healthy volunteers were included in this study. The scanning laser technique in conjunction with an image analysing system were used to assess the morphological and hemodynamic changes in diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic maculopathy group showed a slower capillary blood velocity than normal group(2.44+/-0.39mm/sec vs2.75+/-0.61 mm/sec, p>0.18). The foveal avascular zone was significantly larger in diabetic maculopathy group than in normal group(313.5+/-64.6micrometervs. 238.9+/-93.8micrometer, p<0.05). This results indicate that the retinal microcirculation is altered in diabetic patients compared with healthy subjects. These alterations may be due to the change of the capillary wall and blood viscosity in diabetic patients. The determination of these parameters can be utilized in monitoring the progress of diabetic maculopathy.
Blood Flow Velocity ; Blood Viscosity ; Capillaries ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Healthy Volunteers ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Microcirculation ; Retinaldehyde

Fractures of the tibial plateau involve a major weight-bearing joint, Thus, to achieve good joint function one must strive to achieve joint congruity, axial alignment, stability, and a satisfactory range of motion. Present operative treatment of tibial plateau fractures utilizes the principles of anatomical reduction, elevation of the plateau en masse, bone grafting of the defect in the metaphysis, stable internal fixation and early joint motion. Authors reviewed the 45 tibial plateau fractures operatively treated at Dong-Kang Hospital from Jan. 1983 to Dec. 1988 and analyzed the possible factors that could influence the results. Factors that may adversely affect the results were 1) old female. 2) Hohl Type VI, 3) delayed operation, 4) inadequate reduction, 5) no bone graft, 6) meniscectomy, 7) cruciate ligament injury, and 8) delayed exercise.
Bone Transplantation ; Female ; Humans ; Joints ; Ligaments ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Transplants ; Weight-Bearing

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relation of total antioxidant status (TAS) to metabolic risk factors in Korean adults. Anthropometric measures, blood pressure, serum lipids and fasting glucose were determined in 406 men and women. TAS was measured by using commercially available Randox kit. Serum TAS was significantly positively correlated with body weight (p=0.004), body mass index (BMI) (p=0.033), waist circumference (p=0.017), total cholesterol (p=0.038) and triglyceride (TG) (p<0.001). The mean TAS of hypertriglyceridemic subjects (TG > or =150 mg/dl) was significantly higher than that of subjects whose TG was lower than 150 mg/dl (p=0.001). When central obesity, TG, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting glucose and blood pressure were considered as metabolic risk factors, TAS was shown to be elevated with increased number of metabolic risk factors (p=0.004). The positive association between TAS and a number of metabolic risk factors suggests that increased TAS may not always indicate one's healthier condition. In order to help understand TAS as a marker of total antioxidant capacity in humans with various metabolic conditions, it is needed to clarify the factors affecting TAS in relation to changes in metabolic risk factors.
Adult* ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Risk Factors* ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference

The present study was conducted to examine metabolic risk factors and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of Korean females living in Seoul and to investigate the relationship between the metabolic risk factors and serum TAC. A total of 353 females aged between 20 and 64 participated in the study. Obesity indicators, blood pressure, serum lipid profile and fasting blood glucose were measured as metabolic risk factors. Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay was employed to determine serum TAC of subjects. Obesity indicators such as body mass index, waist circumference and waist-hip ratio were significantly higher in the participants aged > or = 50 y (older group) than in the participants aged 20-49 y (younger group) (p < 0.001). Blood pressure, serum total cholesterol (TC), riglyceride (TG) and fasting blood glucose were also significantly higher in the older group than in the younger group (p < 0.001), demonstrating significant positive correlations between age and MS risk factors. The association between FRAP and MS risk factors were also investigated. FRAP values showed significant positive correlations with age (p = 0.001), serum TG (p = 0.002) and TC (p = 0.03). A tendency of positive association between FRAP and waist circumference was observed without any significant difference (p = 0.06). Increased serum FRAP with central obesity and serum lipids may be interpreted as results of activation of antioxidant defense system against oxidative stress induced by metabolic syndrome (MS) constituent factors. However, to verify the function of FRAP as a potential biomarker of susceptibility to MS various contributors to the plasma antioxidant capacity and their biological relevance related to MS should be elucidated further.
Aged ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Oxidative Stress ; Plasma ; Risk Factors ; Waist Circumference ; Waist-Hip Ratio

BACKGROUND: The information on nasal transport and the metabolism of peptides have been obtained from pharmacokinetic investigations in experimental animals. However, there are no transport and metabolic studies of human nasal epithelial cells. In this study, the permeability characteristics and the metabolic properties of in vitro human nasal cell monolayers were investigated. Material and METHODS: Normal human inferior nasal conchal tissue samples were obtained from patients undergoing endoscopic nasal cavitary surgery. The specimens were cultured in a transwell using an air-liquid interface (ALI) culture, and the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) value of the blank filter and confluent cell monolayers were measured. To determine the % leakage of mannitol, 4µmol 14C-labelled mannitol was added and the % leakage was measured every 10 minute for 1 hour. RESULT: Human nasal epithelial cells in the primary culture grew to a confluent monolayer within 7 days and expressed microvilli. The tight junction between the cells was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The TEER value of the blank filter, fifth day and seventh day reached 108.5 ohm.cm2, 141 ohm.cm2 and 177.5 ohm.cm2, respectively. Transcellular % leakage of the 14C-mannitol at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 minutes was 35.67±5.43, 34.42±5.60, 32.75±5.71, 31.76±4.22, 30.96±3.49 and 29.60±3.68 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: The human nasal epithelial monolayer using ALI using techniques is suitable for a transcellular permeability study. The data suggests that human nasal epithelial cells in as ALI culture technique shows some promise for a nasal transport and metabolism study.
Animals ; Culture Techniques* ; Electric Impedance ; Epithelial Cells* ; Humans* ; Mannitol ; Metabolism ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Microvilli ; Peptides ; Permeability ; Tight Junctions

There are only limited data regarding the seroprevalence of measles of healthcare workers (HCWs) in Korea. We evaluated the seroprevalence of measles in HCWs in a tertiary care hospital in Korea. A total of 7,411 HCWs born from 1952 to 1995 underwent antibody test. The overall seropositivity of measles was 73% (95% confidence interval, 72 – 74). The seropositivity of measles sharply declined from 85% in the 1986 birth cohort to 42% in the 1995 birth cohort, thus signifying pockets of under-immunity. Our data warrant the need for routine antibody tests, followed by measles vaccination or routine measles vaccination in young Korean HCWs.