OBJECTIVE: The conventional methods to determine fetal genetic status, such as amniocentesis or chorionic villi sampling(CVS) have small procedure-related risk of abortion. Recently, several researchers reported that fetal genetic status, such as sex, can be confirmed by fetal nucleated erythrocytes in maternal blood and this method might reduce such risk. Therefore, in this study, we attempted to determine the basic fetal genetic status, sex, with fetal nucleated erythrocytes. METHODS: In twelve pregnant women who undertook amniocentesis or CVS, 20 ml of venous blood was drawn immediately before the procedure and the nucleated erythrocytes were recovered by magnetic activated cell sorting(MACS). After MACS, DNA was extracted from 200 microliter of sample and single nucleated erythrocyte was obtained by additional procedure, immunostaining, and microdissection. After recovery of nucleated erythrocytes by microdissection, nested polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and fluorescent PCR of amelogenin gene were performed to identify the fetal gender. RESULTS: The DNA of enriched erythrocytes after MACS could identify the fetal gender in the 58.3% of the samples by nested PCR. After the recovery of single nucleated erythrocyte by MACS, immunostaining and microdissection, the minute DNA in a single cell could be amplified by primer extension preamplification(PEP), nested PCR, and fluorescent PCR. Fetal genders were correctly identified in 8 out of 12 (66.7 %). CONCLUSION: Through this study, we could conclude that fetal nucleated erythrocytes in maternal blood might be sufficient sample to determine fetal sex. And single cell isolation by microdissection could get the better results than nested PCR after MACS only. However, in spite of the pregnancy of male fetus, female specific bands were obtained after nested PCR of amelogenin in several cells, which might suggest that part of nucleated erythrocytes in maternal blood might be maternal origin. Therefore, to determine fetal genetic condition by nucleated erythrocytes in maternal blood, further improvements of methods to identify the nucleated erythrocytes of fetal origin are needed.
Amelogenin ; Amniocentesis ; Cell Separation ; Chorionic Villi ; Diagnosis* ; DNA ; Erythroblasts* ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Male ; Microdissection ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women

Elephantiasis nostras, the result of recurrent skin infection or chronic lymphedema is characterized by marked skin fibrosis and massive enlargement of a body part. We present a case of elephantiasis nostras due to chronic recurrent erysipelas which affected the lower extremities in a 62-year-old man. The patient had had persisting non-pitting edema, and tender multiple verrucous brownish plaques and nodules on both lower legs for 1 year. On histological examination, there was hyperkeratosis and papilomatosis in the epidermis, fibroplasia, dilated thick walled venules and collagen fibers oriented vertical to the skin surface, and hyperplasia of eccrine ducts in the dermis.
Collagen ; Dermis ; Edema ; Elephantiasis* ; Epidermis ; Erysipelas ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Lymphedema ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; Venules

The 6 patients with neglected rupture of the Achilles tendon were treated by end to end anastomosis using the V-Y tendinous flap originated by Abraham in 1975. A tendinous flap was developed over the tendon by making an inverted V incision, which was then repaired in a Y fashion. The postoperative results were satisfactory with no functional disability of the ankle and with recovery of muscle strength for periods of 8 months to 15 months, but slight limited dorsiflexion of the ankle in two cases were noticed. The advantages of this method are: 1. Optimum functional recovery. 2. Recovery of muscle strength and tendon contour. 3. Prevention of late stretching or possible rupture of the healed tendon at the rupture site.
Achilles Tendon ; Ankle ; Humans ; Methods ; Muscle Strength ; Rupture ; Tendons

No abstract available.
Animals ; Cattle* ; Yersinia enterocolitica* ; Yersinia*

No abstract available.
DNA* ; Plasmids* ; Restriction Mapping* ; Yersinia enterocolitica* ; Yersinia*

The expression of p62"' and p2l can be seen in many solid tumor, but the pattern and incidence of expression were different according to organ, countries, and examiners, thus it is not definitely defined. Total 67 colorectal carcinoma in paraffin sections are analysed by immunohistochemically for evaluation of the p62and p21- expression according to the age, sex, chief complaints, location, differentiation, modified Dukes stage, using the specific monoclonal antibodies. The results were summarized as follows : The age of patients ranged from 32 years to 82 years. The mean age was 57.6 years. The expression of p 62y' and p21 was not correlated with age. Male was 29 cases(43.3%) and female was 38 cases(56.7%). The male to female ratio was 1:1.31. The and 95.0% in moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, 90.0% and 90.0% in poorly differentiated <,;, adenocarcmoma, 100.0% and 100.0% in mucinous carcinoma. The positive rate of p62!and and p2l' was 94.1% and 88.2% in Dukes stage B,, 96.0% and 96.0% in Dukes stage B,, 100.0% and 100.0% in Dukes stage C,, 100.0% and 88.9% in Dukes stage C, and 100.0% and 100. o% in Dukes stage D. The expression of p62 y' in metastatic colorectal carcinoma showed diffuse and strongly positive reaction than primary colorectal carcinoma. The expression of p21 in primary colorectal carcinoma showed diffuse and strongly positive reaction than metastatic colorectal carcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Incidence ; Male ; Oncogene Proteins* ; Oncogenes* ; Paraffin

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second*

Sequence information from the ribosomal RNA molecule can be used as a molecular clock. Therefore, 16S rRNA sequences have become a widely used tool in bacterial systematics, bacterial typing and studies of the composition of micro-organisms in environmental samples. Consequently, the databases are continuously updated with new 16S rRNA sequence information from different species. This in turn facilitates the identification of new isolates, which is important for the diagnosis of various infectious diseases in research. To development differential identification technique in the Yersinia species, the 16S rDNA for total 17 serotypes of Y. pseudotuberculosis type strains and one of Y. enterocolitica wild strain were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and cloned into pGEM-T vector, partially sequenced and analyzed. The 16S rDNA nucleotide sequence homologies among Yersinia strains were ranged 100% to 93.6%. Phylogenetic tree generated from 16S rDNA sequencing data showed different phyletic line that could be readily separated from each serotypes and other enteric bacterium.
Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Sequence ; Classification ; Clone Cells ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis ; DNA, Ribosomal* ; Evolution, Molecular* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal ; Yersinia*

Testicular feminization is an uncommon genetic disorder with considerably familial predisposition and results in total feminization due to end-organ unresponsiveness to androgens. It is characterized by the presence of testes in phenotypically female with adequate breast development, normal extemal genitalia, absence of mullerian structures, and meager or absence of body hair. These patients characteristically have male karyotype(XY) and negative sex chromatin and are at increased risk of undergoing malignant transformation of the undescended gonad. In recent times, the malignant potential of the dysgenetic gonads in the intersex patients with a Y chromosome has been stressed by many authors, but few reports of an association between testicular feminization syndrome and benign tumors such as Sertoli cell adenomas. In the present study, postoperative pathology revealed that the gonads were Sertoli cell adenomas. The main features of clinical presentation and histological studies are briefly discussed with a review of the literature.
Adenoma* ; Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome* ; Androgens ; Breast ; Female ; Feminization ; Genitalia ; Gonads ; Hair ; Humans ; Male ; Pathology ; Sex Chromatin ; Testis ; Y Chromosome

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the fetal doppler flow velocimetry and birth weight in low risk pregnancy population. METHODS: From December 1995 to May 1996, We prospectively performed doppler study in 254 uncomplicated, term pregnant women, who visited Pohang Hospital, Dongguk University. Using pulsed color doppler, we measured umbilical artery RI, middle cerebral artery RI and middle cerebral-umbilical artery RI ratio within one week before delivery. RESULTS: The result was that low birth weight group (below 2500gm) had very significant lationship with umbilical artery RI(P<0.01), middle cerebral artery RI(P<0.05) and middle cerebral-umbilical artery RI ratio(P<0.05), but there was no significant relationship in these blood flow indices between normal birth weight group (2501gm- 3999gm) and macrosomia group (above 4000gm). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that application of doppler ultrasonopaphy in the assessment of fetal weight is somewhat helpful for identification of low birth weight, not for macrosomia.
Arteries ; Birth Weight ; Female ; Fetal Weight* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Prospective Studies ; Rheology ; Ultrasonography* ; Umbilical Arteries