BACKGROUND: Direct wet mount examination of vaginal secretion, widely applied for the diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis infection in woman patients, is rapid and economical. However, the sensitivity of this technique is not so high. In this study enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was employed for the detection of serum anti-T. vaginalis IgG antibodies from vaginal trichomoniasis patients. METHODS: Eighty sera from trichomonoasis patients who visited a Dr. Yoon Kyong's Obstetric & Gynecologic Clinic in Songnam and 30 non-infected healthy men were tested for detection of anti-T. vaginalis IgG antibody. Soluble lysate and excretory-secretory antigen prepared by mixing of six isolates of T. vaginalis, and lysate from one isolate(KT4) were used as antigen for ELISA. RESULTS: The sensitivity of ELISA using lysate of six isolates was 95.0%, and the sensitivity of the lysate from KT4 and mixed excretory-secretory antigen from 6 isolates were 86.4% and 76.3%, respectively. Specificities of ELISA by three 93.3%, 96.3% and 92.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that ELISA using mixed lysate of T. vaginalis six isolates could be useful tools for the diagnosis of trichomoniasis.
Antibodies ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Male ; Trichomonas vaginalis ; Trichomonas*

BACKGROUND: Many Studies regarding hemodynamic changes by various vasodilators, such as nitroprusside, nifedipine, and hydralazine have been reported, however little data are available upon acute hemodynamic change due to captopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor especially in chronic regurgitant valvular heart disease. Therefore the aim of this study is to evaluate the acute hemodynamic effects of sublingual captopril in patients with regurgitant valvular heart diseases. METHODS: Among the 9 patients enrolled in this study, 5 patients mitral regurgitation, 2 had aortic regurgitation, and 2 had both. Five had patients were male and 4 were female. Before, 15 minutes and 30 minutes after administration of 25mg of captopril via sublingual route, forward cardiac output was measured three times using Swan-Ganz catheter. Right and left cardiac catheterization were also done at each phase and measurement of pulmonary capillary wedge pressures, pulmonary artery pressures, right atrial pressures, aortic pressures, left ventricular pressures were done. RESULTS: 1) Heart rate, pulmonary capillary wedge pressures, cardiac output and cardiac indices left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, diastolic and mean aortic pressures, and diastolic pulmonary artery pressure showed no significant change after administration of sublingual captopril. 2) Systolic aortic pressure decreased significantly from basal value(130+/-35) to 15 minute value(126+/-39). 3) Systemic vascular resistance at 15 minute showed significant reduction as compared with basal value(from 1743+/-551 to 1642+/-491). Pulmonary vascular resistance at 30 minutes(254+/-193) was significantly lower than basal value(282+/-229). CONCLUSIONS: Reductions of systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance occurred relatively rapidly, however, acute effects on cardiac output and pulmonary capillary wedge pressures were not evident. Clinical implication of sublingual captopril in patients with regurgitant valvular heart diseases is worth evaluationg by more extensive hemodynamic studies.
Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Arterial Pressure ; Arteries ; Atrial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Capillaries ; Captopril* ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Cardiac Output ; Catheters ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Heart Valve Diseases* ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Hydralazine ; Male ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Nifedipine ; Nitroprusside ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Vascular Resistance ; Vasodilator Agents ; Ventricular Pressure

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the possible role of 2 additional tumor markers to CA125 in discriminating between benign and malignant ovarian tumors. METHODS: Serum samples from 1,346 patients were obtained on seven days before operation. All patients underwent surgery for ovarian tumors. Serum levels of 3 tumor markers were compared to histology. Concentrations of tumor markers (CA125, CA72-4, CA19-9) were detected by enzyme immuno- or immunoradiometric assays. Normal range of these markers was defined as CA125 Humans ; Immunoradiometric Assay ; Reference Values ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Biomarkers, Tumor*

OBJECTIVE: The present study was performed to investigate whether apoptosis occur in human embryos by annexin staining and detect the expression of Fas, Fas-ligand (FasL), Bax, and Bcl-2 in human fragmented embryos derived from IVF-ET by immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using annexin staining, immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis on normal and fragmented embryos, we were able to detect apoptotsis and apoptotic gene products in fragmented embryos. RESULTS: Phosphatidylserine (PS) translocation, the marker for apoptosis, were detected frequently in fragmented embryos. Bcl-2 and Bax protein were detected in both fragmented and non-fragmented embryos. When fragmented embryos compared to normal embryos, immunofluorescent intensity of Bcl-2 tended to be lower in fragmented embryos. Bax gene expression increased in the fragmented embryos compared to the normal embryos. This result supports a model in which the molar ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax determines whether apoptosis induced or inhibited in human embryo. Fas was highly expressed in human preimplantation embryos but not FasL. It suggests that embryo may undergo apoptosis by binding with FasL produced by follicular or immune cells. CONCLUSION: The over expression of Bax and Fas will trigger apoptosis to lead embryo fragmentation and change embryo to be nonviable.
Apoptosis* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; Blastocyst ; Blotting, Western ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Gene Expression ; Humans* ; Molar

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) and prevalence of fetal infection in the pregnant women with suspicious fetal rubella infection. METHODS: Between June 1996 and May 2002 in Chonnam National University Hospital, the rubella specific IgG, IgM antibody and RT-PCR were checked in fetal blood obtained from 31 pregnant women with high risk of rubella infection. Eighteen women (58.1%) had rubella specific IgM, 11 women (35.5%) high titer of rubella specific IgG, and 2 women had a history of recent rubella vaccination within 3 months. RESULTS: PUBS was performed in all cases, successful in 27 cases (87.1%) and failed in 4 cases (12.9%). Cardiocentesis was performed in failed cases. Performing the PUBS, fetal bradycardia was observed in 7 cases (25.9%), fetal tachycardia in 1 case (14.8%), and preterm labor in 2 cases (7.4%). Performing cardiocentesis, fetal bradycardia was observed in 1 case (25.0%), fetal tachycardia in 2 cases (50.0%), and preterm labor in 1 case (25.0%). There was no fetal death. All samples of fetal blood were positive for rubella specific IgG but rubella specific IgM was detected in only 1 case. RT-PCR was negative in all cases. CONCLUSION: Fetal blood sampling is relatively safe and a great precaution is necessary before termination of pregnancy with suspicious fetal rubella infection and without typical maternal rash to reduce unnecessary termination of pregnancy. Several tests such as rubella specific IgM and PCR from placental villi, amniotic fluid, and fetal blood should be considered before termination of pregnancy.
Amniotic Fluid ; Bradycardia ; Chorionic Villi ; Cordocentesis* ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; Fetal Death ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Jeollanam-do ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Prenatal Diagnosis* ; Prevalence ; Rubella* ; Tachycardia ; Vaccination

Oxyphilic clear cell carcinoma of the ovary is a variant of clear cell carcinoma with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm described by Young & Scully in 1987. Thorough samplin is needed to identify typical foci of clear cell carcinoma for the differential diagnoses from a variety of ovarian tumors with oxyphilic cells. We report a case of oxyphilic clear cell carcinoma in a 65-year-old female patient who presented with vaginal spotting and lower abdominal discomfort. The excised mass was a 10x8x7cm sized, well circumscribe yellowish white solid ovarian tumor. Microscopically, the tumor showed glandular, papillary and alveolar growth patterns composed of cuboidal or hobnail-shaped oxyphilic cells.
Female ; Humans ; Diagnosis, Differential

BACKGROUND: Epinephrine is frequently administered during cardiac surgery. The vascular response to epinephrine might be altered by ischemia and reperfusion, since altered vascular control has been demonstrated even after a short period of ischemia. To test the hypothesis, the effects of epinephrine on regional myocardial contractility, coronary blood flow (CBF) and myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) were investigated before and after ischemia in an open-chest canine myocardium. METHODS: Fifteen dogs were acutely instrumented under enflurane anesthesia to measure aortic and left ventricular pressures, pulmonary and left anterior descending (LAD) blood flows via Doppler flowmeter, and subendocardial segment length in the region supplied by LAD. Incremental doses of epinephrine (4, 10, 20, 30 ng/mL of LAD flow) were infused directly into LAD before (normal) and after a 15 min of LAD occlusion and subsequent 30 min-reperfusion (stunned). Segment shortening (%SS), as an index of regional myocardial contractility was evaluated. Simultaneous arterial and coronary venous contents of oxygen and lactate were measured during epinephrine (0.0, 4, 10, and 30 ng/mL) infusion. Effectiveness of metabolic vasodilation was determined from oxygen extraction ratio (EO2). RESULTS: Epinephrine infusions before ischemia resulted in dose-dependent increases in %SS and MVO2. These changes were accompanied by excessive increases in CBF, resulting in decreased EO2. After the ischemia and reperfusion, %SS was depressed and lactate extraction (Elac) was reduced, but similar mechanical responses to epinephrine were observed. However, in the stunned myocardium, CBF increased in parallel with increases in MVO2, resulting in unaltered EO2. Epinephrine infusion further decreased Elac dose-dependently in stunned myocardium. Heart rate and left ventricular systolic and diastolic pressures were little but similarly affected during epinephrine infusions before and after myocardial ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that epinephrine exerts positive inotropic effects in both normal and stunned myocardium, and that epinephrine causes direct coronary vasodilation in normal myocardium, but this effect is abolished in stunned myocardium in dogs. It is also suggested that epinephrine infusion depresses Elac dose-dependently in stunned myocardium.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Dogs* ; Enflurane ; Epinephrine* ; Flowmeters ; Heart Rate ; Ischemia ; Lactic Acid ; Metabolism* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocardial Stunning* ; Myocardium ; Oxygen ; Oxygen Consumption ; Reperfusion ; Thoracic Surgery ; Vasodilation ; Ventricular Pressure

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

Purpose: This study examined the clinical and radiological outcomes of TFNA (Trochanteric Fixation Nail-Advanced) and PFNA-II (Proximal Femoral Nail Antirotation-II) used in the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures. The association between lateral screw sliding and lateral trochanteric pain was analyzed. Materials and Methods: The study included 116 patients diagnosed with unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures who underwent intramedullary nailing surgery at the author’s hospital. The patients were divided into two groups: 72 who received PFNA-II and 44 who received TFNA. Ten patients with positive greater trochanter tenderness and 106 patients with negative tenderness were assessed for the factors associated with lateral trochanteric pain. The radiological outcomes included an evaluation of fracture union, screw position, tipapex distance, proximal femoral nail protrusion, and lateral sliding length of the helical blade. The clinical outcomes were assessed using the Harris Hip Score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, greater trochanter tenderness, and pre- and postoperative ambulation ability. Results: Thirty-three patients (45.8%) of the PFNA-II group and 18 (40.9%) of the TFNA group had lateral sliding of the helical blade, with no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.604). The VAS score was significantly higher in the TFNA group (3.77±1.71) than the PFNA-II group (3.10±1.57, p=0.032). Furthermore, the prevalence of a positive greater trochanter tenderness was significantly higher in the TFNA group (seven patients) than in the PFNA-II group (3 patients, p=0.04). Eight patients had lateral sliding in the positive greater trochanter tenderness group, whereas 43 had lateral sliding in the negative greater trochanter tenderness group (p=0.030). The lateral sliding length was 8.87±5.22 and 2.68±4.47 in the positive and negative groups, respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion The PFNA-II and TFNA groups showed favorable clinical and radiological outcomes, suggesting that both devices are suitable for treating unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures. A comparison of the two devices showed that TFNA induces more lateral trochanteric pain than PFNA-II, and the presence and extent of lateral sliding were associated with lateral trochanteric pain.

BACKGROUND: Ketorolac has been used as a postoperative analgesia in combination with opioids. However, the use of ketorolac may produce serious side effects in vulnerable patients. Propacetamol is known to induce fewer side effects than ketorolac because it mainly affects the central nervous system. We compared the analgesic effects and patient satisfaction levels of each drug when combined with fentanyl patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). METHODS: The patients were divided into two groups, each with n = 46. The patients in each group were given 60 mg of ketorolac or 2 g of propacetamol (mixed with fentanyl) for 10 minutes. The patients were then given 180 mg of ketorolac or 8 g of propacetamol (mixed with fentanyl and ramosetron) through PCA. We assessed the visual analogue pain scale (VAS) at the time point immediately before administration (baseline) and at 15, 30, and 60 minutes, and 24 hours after administration. Also, the side effects of each regimen and each patient's degree of satisfaction were assessed. RESULTS: There was a significant decline in the VAS score in both groups (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the VAS scores between the groups at each time point. Satisfaction scores between the groups showed no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of propacetamol is comparable to that of ketorolac in postoperative PCA with fentanyl.
Analgesia ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled* ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Central Nervous System ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Ketorolac* ; Pain Measurement ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Patient Satisfaction