We present here occurence of PCR-positive but culture-negative for vanB vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) from an enrichment broth of a stool surveillance culture in a patient suffering from Parkinson's disease, who was transferred from a long-term care facility because of aspiration pneumonia. He developed VRE bacteriuria at the hospital day 42. vanA and vanB genes were detected from 6 microg/mL vancomycin-containing BBL Enterococcosel broth (BD), of which color changed to black after overnight incubation, by both Seeplex VRE detection (Seegene, Seoul, Korea) and Anyplex VanR real-time PCR (Seegene). Subculture of an aliquot of the blackened broth on blood agar plate produced only vanA VRE. All of the four subsequent consecutive surveillance cultures for 1 month until discharge at hospital day 75 resulted in PCR-positive but culture-negative for vanB VRE from the enrichment broths. Therefore, the presence of a non-enterococcal intrinsic reservoir bearing vanB is more likely than low burden of vanB VRE. Considering the rare occurrence of vanB VRE in Korea, vanB-positive PCR results from the enrichment broth requires confirmation by microbiological studies.
Agar ; Bacteriuria ; Enterococcus ; Humans ; Korea ; Long-Term Care ; Parkinson Disease ; Pneumonia, Aspiration ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stress, Psychological ; Ursidae ; Vancomycin

OBJECTIVES: To determine the diagnostic performance of transrectal ultrasound in virgin patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, compared with conventional transvaginal ultrasound assessment. METHODS: Ultrasound examinations were performed in 963 Korean women, with transvaginal transducers in 677 women and transrectal transducers in 286 women at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital. Transvaginal ultrasound examinations were performed in 494 normal control women and 183 PCOS patients according to National Institutes of Health (NIH) PCOS diagnostic criteria. In virgin patients, transrectal ultrasound examinations were performed in 141 normal control women and 145 PCOS patients. ROC curves were calculated for ovarian volume and follicle number. RESULTS: By transvaginal ultrasound examination, the ovarian volume showed an area under the ROC curve (AURC) of 0.838. An ovarian volume decision threshold > 7 cm3 had a sensitivity of 73.0% and a specificity of 84.2% for the diagnosis of PCOS. The follicle number showed an AURC of 0.886. A follicle number decision threshold > or = 9 had a sensitivity of 78.6% and a specificity of 87.2% for the diagnosis of PCOS. By transrectal ultrasound examination, the ovarian volume and the follicle number showed AURCs of 0.815 as same thresholds with a sensitivity of 67.2% and 66.4%, respectively and a specificity of 86.8% each. Ovarian volume and follicle number by transvaginal and transrectal ultrasound assessment had a high diagnostic power for PCOS screening. CONCLUSION: Transrectal ultrasound assessment is as effective as conventional transvaginal ultrasound for the detection of PCOS in virgin patients.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Transducers ; Ultrasonography*

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate preoperative anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels in women with endometrioma or other benign ovarian cysts and differences of AMH changes according to various characteristics. METHODS: Ninety-seven patients aged 20 to 39 years who underwent surgery for benign ovarian cyst were enrolled retrospectively. Of these, 65 patients were diagnosed as endometriomas, and 32 had other benign cysts. Serum AMH, mean, maximum, and total diameter of ovarian cysts were measured. The AMH levels were compared according to pathology (endometrioma vs. other benign cyst), size of ovarian cyst, age-matched AMH quartile percentile and characteristics of endometrioma. RESULTS: Preoperative serum AMH level was significantly lower in endometrioma group than other benign cyst group (4.12 +/- 2.42 ng/mL vs. 6.02 +/- 2.29 ng/mL, P < 0.001). Serum AMH level was significantly lower in endometrioma group, especially in patients aged 30 to 39 years. Dividing to age-matched AMH quartile percentile, there were significantly fewer patients with AMH level > or = 75 percentile in endometrioma group (24.6% vs. 50.0%, P = 0.035). Among 4 subgroups of endometrioma, patients with AMH level > or = 75 percentile were significantly decreased in multiple bilateral endometrioma group. Mean and total diameter of cysts were negatively correlated with preoperative serum AMH level in other benign cyst group. CONCLUSION: We suggest that preoperative AMH level measurement might be considered in women with endometrioma, especially in 30 to 39 years old, multiple bilateral type, or big-sized other benign ovarian cyst to assess the diminished ovarian reserve.
Anti-Mullerian Hormone* ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Cysts* ; Pathology ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To evaluate lipid profiles and liver enzymes as surrogate markers used for recognizing insulin resistance in Korean women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 458 women with PCOS were divided into two groups: non-obese with a body mass index (BMI)<25.0 kg/m2 and obese with a BMI> or =25.0 kg/m2. Anthropometric measures and blood sampling for hormone assay, liver enzymes, lipid profiles and 75 g oral glucose tolerance test were performed. Insulin resistance was defined as homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)> or =2.5. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare the power of serum markers. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the contribution of each confounding factor for HOMA-IR. RESULTS: In non-obese and obese groups, the ROC curve analyses demonstrated that the best marker for insulin resistance was triglyceride (TG), with the areas under the ROC curve of 0.617 and 0.837, respectively. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was the significant marker for insulin resistance with areas under the ROC curve of 0.698 in obese group, but not significant in non-obese group. TG and LDL-C were significantly associated with HOMA-IR in both non-obese and obese PCOS women by multiple linear regression analysis. The optimal cut-off points of TG> or =68.5 was a marker for predicting insulin resistance in non-obese PCOS patients and TG> or =100.5 in obese group. CONCLUSION: TG can be used as a useful marker for insulin resistance in Korean women with PCOS, especially for obese patients.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology ; Biological Markers/blood ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol, LDL/blood ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Insulin/blood ; Insulin Resistance/ethnology/*physiology ; Lipids/blood ; Obesity/*blood/ethnology ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/*blood/ethnology ; ROC Curve ; Regression Analysis ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Triglycerides/*blood

In Korean women, a westernized lifestyle is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Fertility preservation has become an increasingly important issue for women with breast cancer, in accordance with substantial improvements in survival rate after cancer treatment. The methods of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for fertility preservation in breast cancer patients have been modified to include aromatase inhibitors to reduce the potential harm associated with increased estradiol levels. Random-start COH and dual ovarian stimulation are feasible options to reduce the total duration of fertility preservation treatment and to efficiently collect oocytes or embryos. Using a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist as a trigger may improve cycle outcomes in breast cancer patients undergoing COH for fertility preservation. In young breast cancer patients with BRCA mutations, especially BRCA1 mutations, the possibility of diminished ovarian reserve may be considered, although further studies are necessary. Herein, we review the current literature on the practical issues surrounding COH for fertility preservation in women with breast cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and biochemical profiles according to homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in Korean polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. METHODS: In 458 PCOS patients diagnosed by the Rotterdam European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) criteria, measurements of somatometry, blood test of hormones, glucose metabolic and lipid profiles, and transvaginal or transrectal ultrasonogram were carried out. HOMA-IR was then calculated and compared with the clinical and biochemical profiles related to PCOS. The patients were divided into 4 groups by quartiles of HOMA-IR. RESULTS: The mean level of HOMA-IR was 2.18 +/- 1.73. Among the four groups separated according to HOMA-IR, body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, lipid accumulation product (LAP) index, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), Apoprotein B, free testosterone, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were found to be significantly different. TG, LAP index, glucose metabolic profiles, and hs-CRP were positively correlated with HOMA-IR after adjustment for BMI. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the clinical and biochemical profiles which are applicable as cardiovascular risk factors are highly correlated with HOMA-IR in Korean women with PCOS.
Apoproteins ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Embryology ; Female ; Glucose ; Hematologic Tests ; Homeostasis* ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipid Accumulation Product ; Lipoproteins ; Metabolome ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* ; Reproduction ; Risk Factors ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin ; Testosterone ; Triglycerides ; Ultrasonography ; Waist-Hip Ratio

BACKGROUND: A number of studies have found associations between heavy metals and uterine fibroids, but the results are inconsistent. Here, we conducted this research to demonstrate the relationships between blood heavy metal concentrations and uterine fibroid volume as well as the rate of uterine fibroid presence. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, we collected data from 308 premenopausal women aged 30–49 years in Seoul; uterine fibroids are ascertained by past history of myomectomy and pelvic ultrasonography. In the analytic phase, we first analyzed the presence of the fibroids and the concentrations of heavy metals via logistic regression. In subgroup analysis, we used simple and multiple linear regression analyses to examine the associations between heavy metals and uterine fibroid volume. RESULTS: There was no connection between the heavy metal concentrations and the presence of uterine fibroids, but the odds of women having fibroids were higher with three particular metals. In subgroup analysis, the association between blood cadmium concentrations and uterine fibroid volume was statistically significant (adjusted beta coefficient = 2.22, 95% confidential interval: 0.06–4.37). In contrast, blood mercury and lead concentrations were not significantly associated with uterine fibroid volume. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are the first that we know to report the association of blood cadmium concentrations with the volume of uterine fibroids. We expect that our findings will be used as evidence for supporting policies to improve premenopausal Korean women's health.
Cadmium* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Linear Models ; Logistic Models ; Metals ; Metals, Heavy ; Seoul ; Ultrasonography ; Women's Health

OBJECTIVE: Endometriosis is a common and recurring gynecologic disease which have afflicting females of reproductive age. We investigated the efficacy of long-term, post-operative use of dienogest for ovarian endometrioma. METHODS: We studied 203 patients who had undergone laparoscopic or robotic surgery for ovarian endometrioma, and were administrated dienogest 2 mg/day beginning in July of 2013, and continuing. We evaluated side effects of dienogest and ultrasonography was performed every 6 months to detect potential recurrence of endometrioma (2 cm) in these post-surgical patients. RESULTS: The follow-up observation periods were 30.2±20.9 months from surgery. The mean age was 34.1±7.2 years old. The mean diameter of pre-operative endometrioma was 5.6±3.0 cm2. One hundred eighty-two (89.7%) women received dienogest continuously for 12.0±7.1 months. Of the subjects, 21 (10.3%) patients discontinued dienogest at 2.4±1.0 months. The most common side effect when dienogest was discontinued was abnormal uterine bleeding. The occurrence rate of vaginal bleeding was 15.8%, a number which did not differ significantly in patients with/without post-operative gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist administration. The other side effects were gastrointestinal trouble including constipation, acne, headache, depression, hot flush, weight gain, and edema. However, no serious adverse events or side effects were documented and recurrent endometriomas were diagnosed in 3 patients (1.5%). CONCLUSION: The data indicates that dienogest was both tolerable and safe for long-term use as prophylaxis in an effort to obviate the recurrence of ovarian endometrioma post-operatively, as well as potential need for surgical re-intervention.
Acne Vulgaris ; Constipation ; Depression ; Edema ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genital Diseases, Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Headache ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Weight Gain

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease with chronic and excessive inflammation. Upregulation of interleukin (IL)-17 is involved in the pathogenesis of RA. STX0119 is a specific inhibitor of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) as a potential target for the treatment of RA. STAT3 is a member of DNA-binding molecules that regulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of RA. The objective of this study was to determine whether STX0119 could inhibit STAT3 and IL-17. We demonstrated that STX0119 decreased T helper (Th) 17 differentiation and IL-17 expression in vitro. STX0119 also improved the severity of zymosan induced arthritis and reduced joint inflammation. STX0119 reduced the proliferation of Th17 and phosphorylated STAT3 expression while increasing Treg differentiation and phosphorylated STAT5 expression. Moreover, STX0119 decreased the expression of IL-6 and -17 but not IL-10. These findings suggest that STX0119 can be used to treat autoimmune RA through inhibiting the activation of STAT3.
Animals ; Arthritis* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Cytokines ; In Vitro Techniques ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Joints ; Mice* ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; Up-Regulation ; Zymosan

Objective: This study aimed to demonstrate the use of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings to select the optimal surgical technique between single-site (SS) and multi-site (MS) robotic myomectomy based on clinical experience, for the preservation of fertility. Methods: Ninety-eight patients who underwent SS or MS robotic myomectomy using the da Vinci® Si system after undergoing MRI were evaluated retrospectively. The correlation between preoperative MRI findings and the intraoperative or postoperative findings during robotic myomectomy for the preservation of fertility was analyzed. The reproductive outcome was investigated when the patient wished to conceive. Results: The mean age of the patients was 35.68±5.04 years and 80 patients (81.6%) were nulliparous. The total diameter of myomas on MRI was 106.75±54.52 mm. The number of resected myomas was 4.31±4.39 (range, 1–27), and the total weight of resected myomas was 293.11±281.13 (range, 30–1,260) g. Myomas with high signal intensity on MRI required less time for resection. MS robotic myomectomy was performed for an increased number and total diameter of a myoma or a deep-seated myoma. Postoperatively, all patients resumed normal menstruation. Of the 15 patients who wished to conceive, 12 (80%) conceived successfully. Of these, uterine dehiscence occurred in 1 patient and 10 patients underwent an uneventful cesarean section. Conclusion SS or MS robotic myomectomy can be recommended for patients who wish to conserve fertility. However, the optimal surgical technique should be selected based on preoperative MRI findings to predict an effective surgical process and the successful preservation of fertility.