No abstract available.
Bronchopulmonary Sequestration*

Postpartum hemorrhage is an important cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. Especially uterine atony is the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage. Conventional method to control postpartum uterine atonic bleeding is based on the use of oxytocin and ergot preparations. Prostaglandin F2alpha analogue such as carboprost can be used to promote contraction when these agents fail to produce uterine contraction. Prostaglandin E1 analogue, misoprostol has uterotonic effect by oral or vaginal administration. They are used to induce labor and first or mid trimester abortion. In postpartum uterine atonic bleeding, misoprostols cannot be used via oral or vaginal route. Recently we have experienced that postpartum uterine atonic bleedings unresponsive to conventional methods were controlled by rectal misoprostols. So we report these cases with a brief review of literatures.
Administration, Intravaginal ; Alprostadil ; Carboprost ; Dinoprost ; Hemorrhage* ; Maternal Mortality ; Misoprostol* ; Oxytocin ; Postpartum Hemorrhage ; Postpartum Period* ; Uterine Contraction ; Uterine Inertia

We report a case of eccrine adenocarcinoma in 65-year-old man who showed tender, painful, dark-brown colored, and verrucous surfaced tumor on the left neck for 18 months. Hisopathologic examination revealed large atypical cell masses with a tubular cystic, or adenoid pattern in the demis and it was difficult to differentiate from metastatic adenocarcinoma. Materials in the lumina revealed PAS positive, diastase resistant, alcian blue positive at pH 2.5 but negative at pH 0,4 Electron microscopy revealed that tumor cells contained secretory vacuoloes and microvilli projected into intercellular space. Around the cells, myoepithelial cell was seen. After radiotherapy and chemotherapy, tumor size was reduced transiently but 2 months later, tumor was more spread.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenoids ; Aged ; Alcian Blue ; Amylases ; Drug Therapy ; Extracellular Space ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microvilli ; Neck ; Radiotherapy

Hydatidiform moles are generally separated into two classifications. Complete hydatidiform moles are characterized by cystic swelling of all villi, often pronounced diffuse trophoblastic hyperplasia, lack of fetal parts, all 46 chromosomes of paternal origin (androgenesis). Partial hydatidiform moles appear to be focal trophoblastic hyperplasia, a fetus or indications of previous fetal existence, 69 chromosomes. Hydatidiform mole with coexistent fetus is a very rare phenomenon, with an estimated incidence of 0.005 to 0.01 percent of all pregnancies and associated with a risk of persistent gestational trophoblastic tumor. Recently, hydatidiform moles with a fetus have become more common due to use of assisted reproductive technology. Most patients with hydatidiform mole and coexisting normal fetus must cautioned about the potential for risks of malignant change and severe medical complications, such as preeclampsia, hyperthyroidism and antepartum hemorrhage, that may necessitate prompt pregnancy termination. We experienced a case of partial hydatidiform mole with coexistent live fetus, which was diagnosed by ultrasonography at 15 gestational weeks. A brief reviews of related literature was done.
Classification ; Female ; Fetus* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydatidiform Mole* ; Hyperplasia ; Hyperthyroidism ; Incidence ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Trophoblastic Neoplasms ; Trophoblasts ; Ultrasonography

Emerging evidence has emphasized the importance of cancer therapies targeting an abnormal metabolic state of tumor-initiating cells (TICs) in which they retain stem cell-like phenotypes and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) metabolism. However, the functional role of NAD⁺ metabolism in regulating the characteristics of TICs is not known. In this study, we provide evidence that the mitochondrial NAD⁺ levels affect the characteristics of glioma-driven SSEA1⁺ TICs, including clonogenic growth potential. An increase in the mitochondrial NAD⁺ levels by the overexpression of the mitochondrial enzyme nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT) significantly suppressed the sphere-forming ability and induced differentiation of TICs, suggesting a loss of the characteristics of TICs. In addition, increased SIRT3 activity and reduced lactate production, which are mainly observed in healthy and young cells, appeared following NNT-overexpressed TICs. Moreover, in vivo tumorigenic potential was substantially abolished by NNT overexpression. Conversely, the short interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of NNT facilitated the maintenance of TIC characteristics, as evidenced by the increased numbers of large tumor spheres and in vivo tumorigenic potential. Our results demonstrated that targeting the maintenance of healthy mitochondria with increased mitochondrial NAD⁺ levels and SIRT3 activity could be a promising strategy for abolishing the development of TICs as a new therapeutic approach to treating aging-associated tumors.
Glioblastoma* ; Lactic Acid ; Metabolism ; Mitochondria ; NAD ; NADP Transhydrogenases ; Phenotype ; Tics ; Up-Regulation*

OBJECTIVES: This retrospective study was conducted to analyze the hypothesis that with neoadjuvant chemotherapy of vinblastine, bleomycin, and cisplatin followed by radical hysterectomy or radiation therapy and concurrent chemoradiation with cisplatin based regimen would improve survival in patients with barrel-shaped or bulky-endophytic (Diameter > 4cm) cervical carcinomas than those of radiation alone or combined radiation and surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Eighty-eight patients with barrel-shaped or bulky-endophytic cervical carcinomas, treated at the Hanyang University Hospital from 1983 to 1997, were the subjects of this investigation. Fifty-six of these patients were treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy ( Stage I b2, 8; IIa, 15; IIb, 20; III- IV, 13), twelve patients were treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy ( Stage Ilb, 4; IIJ-IV, 8), and twenty patients were treated by concurrent chemo-radiotherapy ( Stage IIb, 2; III-IV, 18). RESULTS: The incidence of parametrial extension and pelvic lymphnode metastases was higher in patients with barrel-shaped or bulky-endophytic cervical carcinomas than non-barrel-shaped cervix (p .025: .001). 5-years disease free survival rate was determined for patients treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy was 73.3 %. For patients treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy it was 45.7%. For patients treated by concurrent chemo-radiotherapy it was 46.1%. CONCLUSION: These data support an improvement in survival of patients with barrel-shaped or bulky-endophytic cervical carcinomas treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy or radiation therapy and concurrent chemo-radiotherapy.
Bleomycin ; Cervix Uteri* ; Cisplatin ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy* ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Incidence ; Lymph Node Excision ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Vinblastine

In this study, we attempted to investigate the needs and problems of the terminal cancer patients and their family caregivers to provide them with nursing information to improve their quality of life and prepare for a peaceful death. Data was collected from August 1, 1995 to July 31, 1996 at the internal medicine unit of S hospital in Seoul area with the two groups of participants who were family members of terminal cancer patients seventy four of them were in-patients and 34 were out-patients who were discharged from the same hospital for home care. The research tool used in this study has been developed by selecting the questionnaires from various references, modifying them for our purpose and refining then based on the results of preliminary study. While general background information about the patients was obtained by reviewing their medical records, all other information was collected by interviewing the primary family caregivers of the patients using the questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed with the SPSS PC+ program. The results of this study are summarized as follows; 1) Most frequently complained symptoms of the terminal cancer patients were in the order of pain(87%), weakness(86.1%), anorexia(83.3%) and fatigue(80.6%). 2) Main therapies for the terminal cancer patients were pain control(58.3%), hyperalimentation(47.2%) and antibiotics(21.3%). 3) Special medical devices that terminal cancer patients used most were oxygen device(11.1%), and feeding tube(5.6%). Other devices were used by less than 5% of the patents. 4) The mobility of 70.4% of the patients was worse than ECOG 3 level, they had to stay in bed more than 50% of a day. 5) Patients wanted their medical staffs to help relieve pain(45.4%), various physical symptoms(29.6%), and problems associated with their emotion(11.1%). 6) 16.7% of the family caregivers hoped for full recovery of the patients, refusing to admit the status of the patients. also, 37% wished for the extension of the patient's life at least for 6 months. 7) Only 38.9% of the family members was preparing for the patient's funeral. 8) 45.4% of family caregivers prefer hospital as the place for the patient's death, 39.8% their own home, and 14.8% undetermined. 9) caregivers of the patients were mostly close family members, i.e., spouse(62%), and sons and daughters or daughter-in-laws(21.3%). 10) 43.5% of the family caregivers were aware of hospice care. 46.8% of them learned about the hospice care from the mass media, 27.7% from health professionals, and the rest from books and other sources. 11) Caregivers were asked about the most difficult problems they encounter in home care, 41 of them pointed out the lack of health professionals they can contact, counsel and get help from in case of emergency, 17 identified the difficulty of finding appropriate transportation to hospital, and 13 stated the difficulty of admission in hospital as needed. 12) 93.6% of family caregivers demanded 24-hour hot line, 80% the visiting nurses and doctors, and 69.4% the volunteer's help. The above results indicate that terminal patients and their family caregivers demand help from qualified health professionals whenever necessary. Hospice care system led by well-trained medical and nursing staffs is one of the viable answers for such demands.
Caregivers* ; Emergencies ; Health Occupations ; Home Care Services ; Hope ; Hospice Care ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Mass Media ; Medical Records ; Medical Staff ; Nuclear Family ; Nurses, Community Health ; Nursing Services* ; Nursing Staff ; Nursing* ; Outpatients ; Oxygen ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul ; Transportation

Dextran of a low molecular weight (dextran 40) is frequently used to improve regional perfusion after surgery in spite of the potentially serious complications such as noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, oliguric renal failure, and coagulopathy that have been widely reported. Dextran is used to improve cochlear microcirculation in sudden deafness of vascular origin, but the frequency of complications is rarely reported in the field of otolaryngology. We reviewed the literature of a case we experienced in which a pregnant woman, after recovering from pulmonary edema caused by treatment for sudden deafness with dextran, had a successful vaginal delivery.
Dextrans* ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sudden* ; Humans ; Microcirculation ; Molecular Weight ; Otolaryngology ; Perfusion ; Pregnant Women* ; Pulmonary Edema* ; Renal Insufficiency

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the protein/creatinine ratio of a spot urine specimen for early detection of proteinuria in the pregnancy induced hypertension and to suggest optimum cut-off value of that. STUDY DESIGN: A spot urine specimen and 24 hour urine collection for the proteinuria were ordered for 36 women admitted to obstetric unit for pregnancy induced hypertension and ROC curve analysis was performed to evaluate the usefulness of the protein/creatinine ratio of a spot urine specimen and to suggest optimum cut-off value. RESULT: The protein/creatinine ratio of spot urine positively correlated well with 24 hour urine proteinuria. (r=0.4322, p=0.0085) and the optimum cut-off value of the protein/creatinine ratio of a spot urine specimen to maximize the diagnostic accuracy was 5.0(Youden's index=0.66). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the protein / creatinine raio of a spot urine specimen may be a simple and inexpensive method for evaluation of proteinuria in the pregnancy induced hypertension when frequent determinations are necessary. This should improve clinical care, especially when managing hypertensive pregnant women as outpatients.
Creatinine* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Proteinuria ; ROC Curve ; Urine Specimen Collection

BACKGROUND: IL-18 was originally cloned as a IFN-gamma inducing factor in primed T cells. In synergy with IL-12, IL-18 has been shown to induce strikingly high levels of IFN-gamma production by T cells and to enhance Th1 development. Also this cytokine exerts induction of Th2 development through IL-4 induction. METHODS: Resting CD4+ T cells were sorted by negative selection and activated by anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28 Ab. Expression of IL-12 binding sites, IL-18 binding sites, IL-18Ralpha, and GATA-3 mRNA were analysed by FACS and RT-PCR, respectively. RESULTS: Resting CD4+ T cells expressed IL-18Ralpha chain but not IL-18 binding sites, suggesting a lack of IL-18Rbeta expression. IL-18Ralpha was maintained on the Th1 and Th2 committed cells. IL-18 binding sites were induced on the Th1 but not Th2 cells. Exposure of these cells to IL-18 led to up-regulation of GATA-3 mRNA expression only in Th2 committed cells. To elucidate the relationship between IL-18Ralpha expression and GATA-3 induction by IL-18, Th1 and Th2 committed cells were further cultured in medium with or without IL-12 for 2 days. IL-12 binding sites were maintained on the Th1 and Th2 cells regardless of IL-12 treatment, but IL-18Ralpha expression was rapidly down-regulated on the IL- 12-untreated Th2 cells which did not induce GATA-3 mRNA expression followed by IL-18 stimulation. CONCLUSION: IL-12 supports expression of IL-18Ralpha and GATA-3 mRNA expression was induced by IL-18 through IL-18Ralpha without expression of IL-18 binding site in Th2 cells.
Binding Sites ; Clone Cells ; Interleukin-12* ; Interleukin-18 ; Interleukin-4 ; RNA, Messenger ; T-Lymphocytes ; Th2 Cells* ; Up-Regulation