The uterine cervical cancer is the rnost common tumor of malignant gynecologic tumors and complete remission of the cancer has been possible through early diagnosis and treatment. To evaluate the efficacy of tumor markers SCCA and CEA in patients with uterine cervical cancer as markers for monitoring, we analyzed serum SCCA and CEA crncentrations of 43 patients wit.h uterine cervical caner as a study group and 73 patients with benign pelvic disease as a contrnl group, were admitted to depar tment of Obstetncs & Gynecology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University from May 1991 to January 1993. The results were as follows ; 1. The distrihution of the clinical stages of 43 cervical cancers were : CIS 9, stage I 11, stage II 12, stageg III 5, stage lV 6. 2. The positive rate of SCCA of control group was 17%, and that of CEA nf control group was 12%. And the positive rate of SCCA of study group was 46.5% and that of CEA of study was 27.9%. 3. The average concentration of SCCA of control group was 0.71ng/ml and that of SCCA of study group was 8.25ng/ml(p<0.05). 4. The average concentration of CEA of control group was 1.95ng/ml and that of CEA of study group was 8.33ng/ml(p<.0.05). 5. The average concentration of SCCA by stage were 1.15ng/rnl for C1S, 1.14ng/ml for stage I, 9.72ng/rnl for stage III, 16.75ng/rnl for stage III, 21.95ng/ml for stage IV. Here, the mean value of SCCA was increased stepwise through cliinical stage, there was a correlation between the clinical stage and the concen tration of serum SCCA (p>0.05). 6.The average concentration of CEA by stage were 3.11ng/ml for CIS, 1.96ng/ml for stage I, 8.11ng/rnl for stage II, 18.92ng/ml for stage III, 19.44ng/ml for stage IV. There was not a correlation between the clinical stage and the concentration of serm CEA. 7. When the cervical cancer was divided by histologic subtypes, the average concentration of SCCA in squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix was 11.86ng/ml and the positive rate of SCCA in squamous cell carcinoma was 53.6%(9.46ng/ml & 58.8% in large keratinizing cell type, 15.56ng/ml & 45.5% in large nonkeratinizing cell type). And the average concentration of SCCA in adenocarcinoma was 1.32ng/ml positive rate was 40.0%. The tumor marker SCCA was more sensitive to squamous cell carcinoma rather than adenocarcinoma. 8. The sensitivities of SCCA in preinvasive cancer and invasive cancer were 22.2% and 52.9%, respectively. The average concentration of SCCA in invasive cancer was 10.04ng/ml and was more significantly elevated than of SCCA in preinvasive cancer. 9. Using SCCA & CEA together as markers for monitoring, the positive rate significantly incresaed to 70.6%(p<0.05). But measuring the two tumor marker alone, that not significantly increased. 10) . The diagnostic efficacy of SCCA in cervical cancer was 59.0%, that was higher as compaired with that of CEA. These results suggest that the serum concentration of SCCA is significantly increased stepwise by clinical stage and concomitant measurements of serum SCCA & CEA are more useful in diagnosis of cervical cancer. However measurements of SCCA and/or CEA have little efficacy in the detection of early cervical cancer considering it's low rate of positivity in early cervical cancer. We will evaluate the efficacy of two tumor markers in determining prognosis, therapeutic response and early detection of recurrence for the posttreatment patients in the future.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervix Uteri ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; Biomarkers, Tumor* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: Dopamine is an inotropic agent that is often selected for continuous infusion. For hemodynamic stability, the rate of infusion is controlled in the range of 5-15 µg/kg/min. This study aimed to compare the time intervals from the administration of dopamine to the onset of its hemodynamic effects when dopamine was administered through three different peripheral veins (the cephalic vein [CV], the great saphenous vein [GSV], and the external jugular vein [EJV]). METHODS: Patients in group 1, group 2, and group 3 received dopamine infusions in the CV, GSV, and EJV, respectively. A noninvasive continuous cardiac output monitor (NICCOMO™, Medis, Ilmenau, Germany) was used to assess cardiac output (CO) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR). Six minutes after intubation, baseline heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (BP), diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure (MAP), CO, and SVR values were recorded and dopamine infusion was initiated at a dose of 10 µg/kg/min. Hemodynamic changes at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 15 minutes postinfusion were recorded. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were observed among the three groups with respect to the rate of hemodynamic change. In all groups, systolic BP, diastolic BP, MAP, and SVR tended to increase after decreasing for the first 4 minutes; in contrast, HR and CO decreased until 8 minutes, after which they tended to reach a plateau. CONCLUSIONS: For patients under general anesthesia receiving dopamine at 10 µg/kg/min, there were no clinical differences in the effect of dopamine administered through three different peripheral veins.
Anesthesia, General ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Dopamine* ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Intubation ; Jugular Veins ; Saphenous Vein ; Vascular Resistance ; Veins*

PURPOSE:To describe the features of displaced bucket-handle tears of the menisci on magnetic resonance (MR) images and to assess associated knee injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed coronal and sagittal MR images in 21 bucket-handle tears. The subjects were patients who had underwent preoperative MR evaluations of the knee and were identified from the arthroscopic surgical records as bucket-handle tear. We also described patterns of associated injuries. RESULTS:On coronal MR images, (a) in all cases, peripheral portion of the meniscus(bucket) had the appearance of a truncated or altered wedge;(b) central fragments(handle) were observed to be sitting in the intercondylar notch(16 cases) or located between the fernoral condyle and tibial plateau (5 cases). On sequential sagittal MR images, (c) the bow-tie appearance of the body of the meniscus was not seen (13 cases);(d) the bow-tie appearance of the displaced inner fragment was seen at the intercondylar notch level (9 cases);(e) "double posterior cruciate ligament" sign was presented (7 cases). Associated joint abnormalities included anterior cruciate ligament tears(l 1), contralateral meniscal tears(l 1), posterior cruciate ligament tears(3), medial collateral ligament tears(3), osteoarthritis(1), and Baker's cyst(l). CONCLUSION:Awareness of these characteristic MR findings(a-e) may increase the sensitivity of MR imaging in the diagnosis of displaced bucket-handle tears, and the MRI may be helpful to correctly characterize the displaced fragment and patterns of associated injury, providing arthroscopists a guide to appropriate surgical plans.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Collateral Ligaments ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Knee Injuries ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Chorion* ; Chorionic Villi Sampling* ; Chorionic Villi* ; Female ; Fetus* ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis* ; Trisomy*

BACKGROUND: It is well known that ischemic preconditioning protects the heart against infarction or arrhythmias from a subsequent ischemic injury. Recent laboratory data indicate that the adenosine during the ischemic period may trigger protection via A1 or A3 adenosine receptor and also protein kinase C(PKC) plays a central role. This study was designed to determine the role of adenosine receptor subtypes and PKC in the preconditioning protection. METHODS: All cat heart groups were subjected to 40min ischemia and 30min reperfusion. The preconditioning protocol consists of 4min ischemia and then 10min of reperfusion 4 times. The effects of ischemic preconditioning, nonselective adenosine receptor blocker(SPT), an A1 specific antagonist(DPCPX) and protein kinase C inhibitor(Polymyxin B), on ischemic preconditioning were determined by infarction size. There were 5 groups : (1) control group (Group 1, n=10)(2) Ischemic preconditioned group(Group 2, n=9)(3) DPCPX pretreatment group(Group 3, n=6)(4) SPT preteatment group(Group 3, n=6)(5) Polymyxin B pretreatment group(Group 5, n=6). SPT and DPCPX were given intravenously 5 min before ischemic preconditioning. Polymyxin B was administered to cats for 30min during ischemic preconditioning period. RESULTS: Ischemic preconditioning only or pretreatment with DPCPX prior to preconditioning demonstrated a significant reduction in infarct size(22.6+/-1.5, 25.4+/-0.9% infarction of the risk zone, respectively, p<0.05) with respect to control, SPT-pretreatment, and polymyxin B-pretreatment groups(44.0+/-1.7, 43.0+/-2.0 and 40.3+/-0.4% infarction of the risk zone, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Ischemic preconditioning protects heart from subsequent ischemia. Protection was blocked by SPT and protein kinase C inhibitor(polymyxin B), but not by A1 antagonist DPCPX. The cardioprotective effects by ischemic preconditioning in the in vivo cat heart appear to be dependent on A3 adenosine receptors and activation of protein kinase C.
Adenosine* ; Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cats* ; Heart* ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Preconditioning* ; Polymyxin B ; Polymyxins ; Protein Kinase C* ; Protein Kinases* ; Receptors, Purinergic P1* ; Reperfusion

OBJECTIVE: To examine the nerve supply of external anal sphinctor muscle which contributes for the anal or urinary continence. METHOD: In the present study, sacral arc reflex was examined by an electrical stimulation of the penile shaft and recording of the compound muscle action potential from the external anal sphincter muscle with surface electrode, and pudendal nerve conduction was done by using a magnetic stimulation of proximal and distal cauda equina and recording from the external anal sphincter muscle. RESULTS: The results showed that the mean sacral arc reflex latency was 36.88+/-3.59 msec, and mean amplitude was 223+/-51.86 V with an electrical stimualtion. The mean latency by a magnetic stimulation of the proximal cauda equina was 6.34+/-1.29 msec, and the mean amplitude was 138+/-56 V. The mean latency by a magnetic stimualtion of the distal cauda equina was 3.67+/-0.44 msec, mean amplitude was 534+/-380 V. CONCLUSION: The pudendal nerve conduction study using a magnetic stimulation is a useful evaluation tool for the fecal incontinence of peripheral type, and neurogenic bladder.
Action Potentials ; Anal Canal* ; Cauda Equina ; Electric Stimulation ; Electrodes ; Fecal Incontinence ; Pudendal Nerve ; Reflex ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic

40 cases of bile duct carcinoma gathered over a 6-year period at Kosin Medical College were reviewed and theirclinical and cholangiographic findings were as follows: 1. There were 29 males and 11 females (the ratio of men towomen, 2.6:1) ranging from 37 to 74 years of age. The majority (70% of cases) were in 4th & 5th decades. 2.Clinical symptoms and signs: jaundice in 95%, RUQ or epigastric pain in 75%, pruritus in 52.5%, dark urine in 35%,weight loss in 32.5%, fever and chills in 22.5%, clay colored stool in 12.5%, and palpable mass in 12.5%. 3.Lab,findings: elevated serum total bilirubin(above 20.0mg% in 45%, 10.0-19.0mg% in 22.5%, 5.0-9.9mg% in 20%,1.3-4,9mg% in 5%), elevated alkaline phosphatase in 95%. Clonorchiasis were noted in 17.5%. 4. Histologic findingswere adenocarcinoma in most cases. 5. The location of bile duct carcinoma were common hepatic duct in 35%, commonbile duct in 32.5%, porta hepatis in 12.5%, junction with cystic duct in 10% and diffuse form in 10%. 6. In 33cases, PTC or post-operative cholangiographic examination were done. And the most frequent findings weredilatation of the proximal bile duct and abrupt narrowing or complete obstruction of distal lumen. In 27cases(82%), complete obstruction of bile duct was noted. Attempts were made to analyze the type of obstruction:Constricted type in 39%, Nipple type in 18%, round or flat type (smooth or slightly irregular) in 15%, andserratd type in 9%. Incomplete obstruction were noted in 6 cases(18%). Among them, abrupt narrowing of lumen wasnoted in 9% and diffuse narrowing in 9%. 7. ERCP was done in 7 cases. Findings were constricted type in 42.6%,constricted and slightly irregular type in 14.3%, downward convexity in 14.3%, diffuse irregular narrowing in14.3% and intraluminal filling defect in 14.3%.
Adenocarcinoma ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Bile Ducts ; Bile ; Chills ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Clonorchiasis ; Cystic Duct ; Female ; Fever ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Male ; Nipples ; Pruritus

No abstract available.
Asthma* ; Dyspnea* ; Humans ; Respiratory Function Tests*

Patient survival is one of the most important measures for the evaluation of progress in cancer patient care across the wide spectrum from diagnosis to treatment. The optimal monitoring method for cancer patient survival is to estimate survival based on representative data from cancer patients in the population, which is only achievable through using population-based cancer registration data. Relative survival is used to compare the survival experience in a study cohort that expected to result from background population mortality rates. This technique is useful when the cause of death is not accurate or not available, since it provides a measure of excess mortality in a group of patients with a certain disease. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the procedures for estimating relative survival using the statistical software Stata. For this survival analysis to show the procedure, the example data set was randomly selected from the National Cancer Incidence Database, which was used in a recent article reporting the overall relative survival of cancer patients diagnosed during 1993-2002 in Korea.
Cause of Death ; Cohort Studies ; Dataset ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mortality ; Patient Care ; Survival Analysis*

To elucidate the role of p53 and nm23 in the development, progression, and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer, we studied 91 paraffin sections of the primary non-small-cell lung cancers and the 34 paraffin sections of their metastatic lymph nodes using the immunohistochemical method. The results are as follows: 1) The incidence of p53 protein expression was positively correlated with the staging of lung cancers (p<0.025). 2) The incidence of p53 protein expression was higher in the lung cancers with lymph node metastasis than in those without lymph node metastasis (p=0.009). 3) The incidence of nm23 protein expression was lower in the adenocacinomas than in the squamous cell carcinomas (p=0.032). 4) The incidence of nm23 protein expression was lower in the lung cancers with lymph node metastasis than in those without lymph node metastasis (p=0.026). The expression of nm23 protein between the primary lung cancers and corresponding metastatic lymph nodes showed positive correlation (Kendall's Tau-b correlation coefficient=0.47140, p=0.0068). 5) The expression of p53 was not correlated with the expression of nm23 protein (Kendall's Tau-b correlation coefficient=0.11387, p=0.2800). The above results suggest that an overexpression of p53 protein and a downregulation of nm23 protein are associated with tumor progression and metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Down-Regulation ; Incidence ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin