The incidence of uterine prolapse during pregnancy is rare. A 34-year-old G3P1 was initially presented at 16 weeks 5days of gestation with a prolapse of the uterine cervix. The cervix was edematous and protruding beyond introitus. Management included bed rest, and the patient was discharged after several days with a vaginal pessary to help maintain cervical placement. At 35 weeks of gestation, the patient did not experience any further prolapse after the removal of the pessary. Pregnancy progressed to term with no further prolapse. She was readmitted at 38weeks 5days of gestation with spontaneous labor. She delivered a 3.36kg male with an Apgar score at 1 minute and at 5 minutes of 7 and 8 respectively. The patient's cervix remained prolapsed in the early postpartum period; however it was easily reduced prior to discharge. After puerperium, the patient's cervix remained prolapsed. She was fitted with a vaginal pessary for uterine support. We reported this case with related literature.
Adult ; Apgar Score ; Bed Rest ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Pessaries ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy* ; Prolapse ; Uterine Prolapse*

The occurrence of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) in patients with noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is a rare event and of pathogenetic interest. It is not clear whether this is merely coincidence. We report here five patients with IgAN in NIDDM associated with or without diabetic glomerulosclerosis. All of the patients were Korean males. In three patients, diabetes mellitus was diagnosed at the same time with diagnosis of IgAN, and the known duration of the diabetes in the other two patients were three and seven years, respectively. There was no evidence of diabetic retinopathy in four patients, but it was found in one patient. In all cases, the diagnosis of IgAN was made by immunohistology.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Case Report ; Complement 3/analysis ; Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent/complications* ; Diabetic Nephropathies/pathology* ; Glomerular Mesangium/pathology ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/pathology* ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/etiology ; Human ; IgG/analysis ; Kidney Glomerulus/pathology ; Male ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Middle Age

The diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) is almost always based on clinical grounds. The diagnosis is supported by a long history of diabetes, evidence of target organ damage and proteinuria preceding azotemia. The validity of this clinical approach is well established in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus but not in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). It is thus important to determine which patients with NIDDM accompanied by non-diabetic renal disease (NDRD) should have a biopsy. However, factors clinically associated with NDRD in patients with NIDDM remain unclear. Therefore we reviewed clinical data, laboratory data and renal biopsies from 22 NIDDM patients who underwent renal biopsy between 1992 and 1998 in Wonju Christian Hospital. From this data, we identified important features that would discriminate between DN and NDRD. There were 8 women and 14 men. Age ranged from 33 to 68 (51.2 +/- 10.7) years. The duration of diabetes at biopsy ranged from 0 to 13 (4.2 +/- 4.2) years. Nephrotic syndrome was present in 13 patients. The patients with NDRD (n = 14) and DN (n = 8) had comparable 24-hour proteinuria, 24-hour albuminuria, creatinine clearance, serum creatinine, albumin, as well as incidences of neuropathy and hypertension. The significant factors that predict the NDRD included a short duration of the diabetes mellitus, the presence of dysmorphic red blood cells in urine, the absence of retinopathy and HbA1c below 9% (p < 0.05, respectively). NDRD included IgA nephropathy (n = 6), minimal change disease (n = 3), membranous nephropathy (n = 3), membranous lupus nephritis (n = 1) and acute interstitial nephritis (n = 1). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the short duration of DM and the absence of retinopathy were factors significantly associated with NDRD. In summary, when there is a short duration of diabetes mellitus, or an absence of retinopathy seen in patients with NIDDM, then renal biopsy in diabetic patients aids in the detection of NDRD.
Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent/complications* ; Diabetic Nephropathies/diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Human ; Kidney/pathology ; Kidney Diseases/pathology ; Kidney Diseases/diagnosis ; Kidney Diseases/complications* ; Male ; Middle Age

OBJECTIVE: Diabetic nephropathy is an important cause of end-stage renal disease and associated with morbidity and mortality of the patients with diabetes mellitus. It has been reported that the genetic susceptibility may be an important factor in the development of nephropathy in diabetic patients, but the genes responsible for the predisposition to diabetic nephropathy are not known. The genes of the renin-angiotensin systems are plausible candidate genes and the genetic polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme(ACE) gene has been extensively studied for its possible role. Recently, the association of the ACE gene polymorphism with nephropathy as well as myocardial infartion was reported in diabetic patients. To elucidate the contribution of ACE gene polymorphism to the initiation and progression of diabetic nephropathy, we typed the alleles of the ACE gene in 139 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). METHODS: After the extraction of genomic DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes, PCRs were performed using the flanking and insertion specific primers, respectively. The PCR products were electrophoresed in 1.5% agarose gels, and DNA was visualized directly with ethidium bromide staining. RESULTS: Subjects were consisted of 139 patients with diabetes mellitus and male to female ratio was 63:76, mean age 55.8+/-12.0 years, mean duration of diabetes 9.5+/-7.8 years. ACE genotypes in whole population were 37.4% DD genotype, 51.1% ID genotype and 11.5% II genotype. The ACE genotype distributions, age, sex, blood pressure and body mass index were not different in diabetic subjects with or without nephropathy. No significant differences on the clinical parameters such as age, sex, blood pressure, body mass index, duration of diabetes, incidence of hypertension, cardiovascular complication, diabetic neuropathy and retinopathy, serum creatinine and 24hour albumin excretion were noted according to the ACE genotypes. Forty-six patients with NIDDM were followed over 3 years. The mean follow-up duration was 6.4+/-2.7 years, mean age was 54.4+/-10.2 years, and mean duration of diabetes was 14.7+/-6.1 years. ACE genotypes were 36.9% DD genotype, 52.2% ID genotype and 10.9% II genotype. The ACE genotype distributions were not different in the patients among DD, II or II genotypes. There were also no significant differences in terms of age, sex, duration of diabetes, blood pressure, body mass index, prevalence of hypertension, cardiovascular complication, diabetic neuropathy and diabetic retinopathy. But the rate of decline of creatinine clearance(deltacreatinine clearance, ml/min/year) was higher in DD genotype than ID or II genotypes(3.3+/-7.2 vs 2.8+/-6.2 vs 2.7+/-9.8), and the rate of change of 24-hour protein excretion(deltaurinary protein excretion, mg/24hours/year) was higher in DD genotype than ID or II genotypes(89.3+/-220.0 vs 74.1+/-156.8 vs 70.9+/-546.3). But they did not reach to statistical significance. CONCLUSION: We found that insertion/deletion polymorphism of ACE gene is not implicated in the initiation of diabetic nephropathy of Korean NIDDM patients, but also found the possibility that progression of diabetic nephropathy may be associated with it. We need large scaled prospective follow-up studies on the effects of ACE polymorphism in the progression of diabetic nephropathy.
Age Distribution ; Alleles ; Angiotensins* ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Creatinine ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; DNA ; Ethidium ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gels ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Mortality ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency* ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; Sepharose

Hantavirus infection occuring during pregnancy is rarely progressing to adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is accompanied by thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis, fever, oliguria, aggravation of bleeding, hematuria, lactacedemia. Pregnancy may have an unfavorable impact on the pathophysiologic characteristics of ARDS. The high oxygen demands of pregnancy are unable to be matched by oxygen delivery in ARDS and may predispose the patient to multiple organ failure, as well as fetal oxygen deprivation. We present the case with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome complicating pregnancy.
Fever ; Hantavirus Infections ; Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome* ; Hantavirus* ; Hematuria ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Multiple Organ Failure ; Oliguria ; Oxygen ; Pregnancy* ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Thrombocytopenia

Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is a common enzyme for the evaluation of the hepatic, muscular and cardiac diseases and is produced also at kidney, brain, pancreas, lung, leukocytes, erythrocytes, etc. The elevation of its activity is usually caused by the necrosis of hepatocytes when there are not muscular injuries or myopathies. Recently, it is found that AST can exist as a macroenzyme by forming a complex with an immunoglobulin and this complex is erroneously considered to indicate the presence of liver disease as a result of elevation of AST activity on routine blood chemistry analysis. We experienced the patient with isolated AST elevation due to the formation of AST-mmunoglobulin complex confirmed by AST isoenzyme electrophoresis (EP).
Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Brain ; Chemistry ; Electrophoresis ; Erythrocytes ; Heart Diseases ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Kidney ; Leukocytes ; Liver Diseases ; Lung ; Muscular Diseases ; Necrosis ; Pancreas

Recently the change in medical informatics enabled us to use medical information whenever we want and wherever we are. There are many homepages on the web, which provide hospital information, medical counseling. Our multimedia center began its service as a internet Hospital in MIDAS Dongailbo, one of the major daily newspaper in Korea, on March 25th, 1997. The aim of this study is to examine the content and purpose of medical counseling on the web. The subjects consisted of 1,000 counsellings which were called 'Dongailbo Internet Hospital' for March, 25th, 1997 through October 30th, 1997. Many questioners wanted to know treatment principles, to make a diagnosis, and to know specific medical knowledges. The most common questions are as follows: general and unspecified, musculoskeletal, skin, digestive, respiratory, neurological problems.
Computer Communication Networks ; Counseling* ; Diagnosis ; Internet ; Korea ; Medical Informatics ; Multimedia ; Periodicals* ; Skin

Recently the change in medical informatics enabled us to use medical information whenever we want and wherever we are. There are many homepages on the web, which provide hospital information, medical counseling. Our multimedia center began its service as a internet Hospital in MIDAS Dongailbo, one of the major daily newspaper in Korea, on March 25th, 1997. The aim of this study is to examine the content and purpose of medical counseling on the web. The subjects consisted of 1,000 counsellings which were called 'Dongailbo Internet Hospital' for March, 25th, 1997 through October 30th, 1997. Many questioners wanted to know treatment principles, to make a diagnosis, and to know specific medical knowledges. The most common questions are as follows: general and unspecified, musculoskeletal, skin, digestive, respiratory, neurological problems.
Computer Communication Networks ; Counseling* ; Diagnosis ; Internet ; Korea ; Medical Informatics ; Multimedia ; Periodicals* ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a common complication of chronic renal failure. The only reliable method for distinguishing patients with high turnover from those with low turnover bone disease is bone histomorphometric study, but its clinical utility is restricted. Because of its invasive nature, efforts have been made to predict indirectly the type and severity of this metabolic bone disease by serologic assays. This study was undertaken to evaluate the determinants and clinical significance of intact parathyroid hormone(iPTH) in end-stage renal disease patients on regular hemodialysis. METHODS: Ninety-eight patients on regular hemodialysis patients were included in this study. Laboratory data included blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, albumin, calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase and iPTH. Serum iPTH was checked by immunoradiometric assay. We also evaluated age, sex and underlying renal diseases. RESULTS: The mean age was 50.3+/-13.8 years, duration of dialysis 42.7+/-40.1 months, duration of follow-up 38.3+/-10.9 months. Thirty patients had an iPTH level more than three times of normal (> or =195 pg/mL). Patients with iPTH level of > or =195 pg/mL had longer duration of dialysis, younger age, lower incidence of diabetes, higher serum creatinine, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, lower calcium and arterial HCO3- concentration. In patients with iPTH level of <195 pg/mL, there was significant correlation between serum iPTH and calcium level(r=-0.43, p<0.001), whereas there was no significant correlation in those with iPTH level of > or =195 pg/mL. CONCLUSION: In patients with iPTH level of > or =195 pg/mL (three times of normal level), normal calcium-parathyroid feedback mechanism are not maintained. Serum iPTH level seems to be affected by nourishment, age, acidosis and the presence of diabetes.
Acidosis ; Age Factors ; Albumins ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Bone Diseases ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Calcium ; Creatinine ; Dialysis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary ; Immunoradiometric Assay ; Incidence ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Parathyroid Hormone* ; Renal Dialysis*

Ten patients with muscle-invading bladder carcinoma (clinical stage T2-TsB Nx Mo, T.C.C.) who were not candidates for cystectomy were treated with combined cisplatin and external-beam radiotherapy From Mar. 1990 through Feb. 1992. Results of the combined therapy had been compared with those of the radiation therapy alone. Using this combined therapy, 5(71.4%) of 7 patients achieved partial remission with a mean follow-up of 10.8 months. Three patients died of unrelated causes. Partial remission following radialion therapy alone was 6 (60%) of 10 patients. Patients with complete remission was none in the two groups. All patients in the combined therapy group were nauseated on the day treatment was given and 7 patients developed total atopecia. The malaise associated with cisplatin therapy tended to increase with the number of courses. All patients refused further treatment on this account (mean amount of cisplatin received: 3 courses). Combined cisplatin and radiotherapy may be applied to patients unsuited for radical cystectomy. Tolerance to cisplatin and radiotherapy was poor due to relatively severe toxicity, poor performance status with old age and underlying medical disease. Refinement of this protocol, careful selection of patients and longer follow-up will be necessary to determine the real benefit of this alternative modality.
Cisplatin* ; Cystectomy ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Radiotherapy* ; Urinary Bladder*