OBJECTIVES: Estimation of the anterior lower uterine segment (LUS) thickness difference who underwent prior cesarean delivery measured with transvaginal sonography at or after 36 gestational weeks (sonographic thickness) and a ruler during elective cesarean section (operation thickness) Methods: One hundred sixty women who underwent prior cesarean delivery had the thickness of their LUS measured with transvaginal sonography at or after 36 gestational weeks. The LUS thickness was measured with a ruler during elective cesarean section. We compared group I whose LUS was fairly well visualized 4 cm or more from the uterine cervix to group II which had less than 4 cm. RESULTS: The mean sonographic thickness of LUS was 1.7 0.8 mm and that of operation thickness was 1.9 0.5 mm. The mean difference of the two (thickness difference) was 0.5 0.5 mm. In 31.3% the sonographic thickness was same as the operation thickness and in 70.7% of the total with 0.5 mm or less difference, the sonographic thickness could be regarded as accurate. The thickness difference with the sonographic thickness with 2 mm or more was smaller than those with 1 mm or less (0.4 0.5; 0.6 0.6) and that of group I was smaller than that of group II (0.4 0.4; 0.9 0.6) (p< .05). CONCLUSION: The thickness difference was 0.5 0.5 mm and it was smaller when the LUS thickness is 2 mm or over, clearly visible 4 cm or over from the cervix.
Cervix Uteri ; Cesarean Section ; Cicatrix* ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Ultrasonography*

Adenomyotic cyst is very rare disease, their sizes are mostly lesser 5mm. The intrauterine adenomyotic cyst may arise from progressive expansion of cyst due to progressive menstrual bleeding. Authors experienced a case of large adenomyotic cyst within myometrium occuring in a l9-year-old woman, and who was accompanied with endometriosis. The cyst was about 3 x 3em sized, and had chocolate colored thick viscous contents, We experienced one case of adenomyotic cyst which was thought to be degenerated uterine myoma, so we report the case with a brief review of the concerned literatures.
Animals ; Cacao ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Mice ; Myometrium* ; Rare Diseases

Microphallus species occur primarily as intestinal parasites of birds and mammals, and metacercariae of a new species belonging to this genus have been discovered from the crab, Macrophthalmus dilatatus, in the Republic of Korea. The metacercaria of this fluke was round with 2 thick walls, and the excysted one had mature genital organs. The adult flukes recovered from experimentally infected chicks had numerous intrauterine eggs, well-developed pars prostatica, widely bifurcating ceca, and prominent uterine bulge. After observing internal structures, it was concluded that this species is different from any other known Microphallus spp. Based on the morphology of metacercariae and adult flukes, we describe this specimen as a new species, Microphallus koreana n. sp.
Animals ; Brachyura/*parasitology ; Chickens ; Rats ; Trematoda/*anatomy & histology/*classification/isolation & purification ; Trematode Infections/parasitology/transmission

The necrotizing fascitis, that develops after a Cesarean section, is acknowledged as a rare complication due to the development of antibiotics. Having a very high mortality rate, the only way to prevent the septic shock and the impairment of the cardiopulomary function is the use of adequate antibiotics, the infusion of IV fluids, a radical section of the necrotized fascia and a through cleansing. We have an experience in treating a primipara who had a necrotic fascitis after Cesarean section, and therefore, report this case with the review of articles enclosed.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cesarean Section* ; Fascia ; Fasciitis ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing* ; Female ; Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Shock, Septic

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of transition from viral myocarditis to dilated cardiomyopathy is elusive, although the incidence of dilated cardiomyopathy in human is increasing. METHODS: To clarify the role of the tissue inhibitor of matrix metaloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) in this event, we performed immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting and immunoassay of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and TIMP-2 in the serum and heart tissue of mice, which were inoculated with 4000 plaque-forming units of coxsackie B virus. RESULTS: The MMP-9 was expressed in damaged cardiomyocytes, and the TIMP-2 was expressed in mainly interstitial connective tissue between cardiac muscle bundles by immunohistochemistry. The level of serum MMP-9 was higher in the complicated than non-complicated group (p<0.001), but the level of TIMP-2 was much lower in complicated than non-complicated group (p<0.05). These findings were similar to the results of immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting in tissues. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that an imbalance in the level of MMP-9 and its inhibitor might activate cardiac complication in viral myocarditis.
Animals ; Cardiomyopathies ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Connective Tissue ; Heart* ; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Immunoblotting ; Immunohistochemistry ; Incidence ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2* ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; Mice* ; Myocarditis* ; Myocardium ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2

We report a case that a neuroblastoma in a fetus was recognized before birth and its growth could be observed. The diagnosis was made by ultrasonography. The suprarenal mass initially showed pure cystic features on ultrasound. Surgical exploration revealed an adrenal cystic tumor and histology showed a neuroblastoma in situ. Forty-five infants with prenatally detected neuroblastoma were found in the English literature; about one-half of them were cystic neuroblastomas and most had a favorable outcome.
Diagnosis ; Fetus ; Humans ; Infant ; Neuroblastoma* ; Parturition ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal*