OBJECTIVES: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) mutation are commonly associated with hyperhomocysteinemia, and through their defects in homocysteine metabolism, they have been implicated as a risk factor for recurrent spontaneous abortion. Recent report describe that 28-bp tandem repeat polymorphism in thymidylate synthase enhancer region (TSER) that influence enzyme activity would affect plasma homocysteine level. We have investigated the relationship between TSER genotype and plasma homocysteine level in 54 patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion. METHODS: Plasma homocysteine level was measured by fluorescent polarizing immunoassay. MTHFR mutation (C677T and A1298C) was identified by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay and TSER mutation was analyzed by PCR method. The data were analyzed using the program SAS 8.2 for Windows. RESULTS: Total homocysteine level was significantly higher in MTHFR 677TT genotype (9.80+/-3.87 mumol/L) than MTHFR 677CC genotype (8.14+/-1.74 mumol/L) in Korean patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (p=0.0143). However, the plasma homocysteine level was not significantly different in the MTHFR 1298AA (8.42+/-2.65 mumol/L) and 1298CC (6.09+/-0.32 mumol/L; p=0.2058) and, TSER 2R2R (8.61+/-1.68 mumol/L) and 3R3R (8.05+/-2.81 mumol/L; p=0.9319) mutant genotypes, respectively. In this study, we found the combination effects of TSER and MTHFR C677T genotypes. Plasma homocysteine levels were the highest (11.47+/-4.66 mumol/L) in individuals with TSER 3R3R (8.05+/-2.81 mumol/L) and MTHFR 677TT (9.80+/-3.87 mumol/L) genotypes. Individuals with a combination of both TSER 2R2R/2R3R and MTHFR 677CC/CT genotypes (7.69+/-1.77 mumol/L) had lower plasma homocysteine levels than TSER 2R2R (8.61+/-1.68 mumol/L) and MTHR 677CC (8.14+/-1.74 mumol/L) genotypes, respectively. The effect of MTHFR polymorphism in the homocysteine metabolism appears to be stronger than that of TSER polymorphism. CONCLUSION: Although statistically not significant, we found the elevated level of plasma homocysteine in combined genotypes with TSER and MTHFR (C677T and A1298C) in Korean patients with unexplained habitual abortion. In this study, we reported the possibility that TSER polymorphism is a genetic determinant of plasma homocysteine levels in the Korean patients as well as MTHFR C677T polymorphism. A large prospective study is needed to verify our findings.
Abortion, Habitual ; Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Female ; Genotype ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Immunoassay ; Metabolism ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; Plasma* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Tandem Repeat Sequences ; Thymidylate Synthase*

No abstract available.
Cytogenetics*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Fructosamine*

OBJETIVE: To analyze the antithrombin III deficiency in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The blood samples were tested by chromogenic assay to evaluate the activity of antithrombin III. RESULTS: There was only one case of antithrombin III deficiency. This patient experienced one neonatal death after delivery and one FDIU (fetal death in utero). And also this patient showed a lupus anticoagulant and the prolongation of PTT. CONCLUSIONS: Women with recurrent miscarriage who have no obvious identified cause should consider hematologic screening. Antithrombin III deficiency could be a cause of recurrent spontaneous abortion. But the incidence is very rare in Korean patients.
Abortion, Habitual ; Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Antithrombin III Deficiency* ; Antithrombin III* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Mass Screening ; Pregnancy

No abstract available.
Blood Platelets* ; Diagnosis* ; Flow Cytometry* ; Integrin beta3* ; Thrombasthenia*

No abstract available.
Gangwon-do* ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver* ; Prevalence*

PURPOSE: The effect of surfactant treatment on inflammatory cell populations has not been determined. I evaluated the effect of surfactant treatment on a number and distribution of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) from the preterm infants who were dependent on mechanical ventilation over the 1st week of life. METHODS: This study included 8 preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome(RDS) who received surfactant(Exosurf, 67.5mg/kg Dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine(DPPC) with a volume of 5 ml/kg, single dose)on their first day of life and 7 preterm infants of similar severity who did not. BALFs were collected on days 2, 3, 5, and 7 after birth. Cell counts were performed from the obtained BALFs, then they were applied to cytospin and Wright stain, and the differentials were calculated on 200 cells. RESULTS: Surfactant treatment had no significant effect on the number of BALF white cells on days 2-7. Polymorphonuclear cell numbers were not different in both groups on days 2 7. Macrophage cell numbers were higher overall in surfactant treated babies compared to those in untreated babies on days 2-7(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Surfactant treatment appeared to accelerate the appearance of macrophages in BALF.
Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Cell Count ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Macrophages ; Parturition ; Respiration, Artificial

No abstract available.
Humans

No abstract available.
Humans