OBJECTIVE: To establish intrauterine growth curve for the birth weight of twins on the basis of gestational age. METHODS: The medical records of twin gestations delivered between 1980 and 2001 were reviewed. 610 Twin pairs (1,220 infants) were comprised our study population. The newborns were grouped according to gestational age and the median, 10th, 50th, and 90th percentile birth weight for each gestational week were calculated. Intrauterine growth curve of twins was compared with that of singletons of Wonju Christian Hospital. We studied the differences of birth weights of twins as sex, parity, chorionicity in twins. RESULTS: The birth weights of twins fall below that of singleton after 32-33 weeks. The 50th percentile for twins falls below the 10th percentile for singleton after 37 weeks, and 90th percentile for twins falls below the 50th percentile for singleton. The mean birth weight in male twin infant was heavier than in female twin infant through all gestational week. The mean brith weight in multiparity was heavier than in nulliparity through all gestational week. The mean birth weight in dichorionic twins was heavier than in monochorionic twins through all gestational week. CONCLUSION: We presented twin specific birthweight curve on the basis of gestational age. The growth pattern of twins was different from that of singleton. We recommend the twin specific birthweight curve in the management of twin gestations.
Birth Weight* ; Chorion ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Gestational Age* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Medical Records ; Parity ; Parturition* ; Twins*

PURPOSE: This study validated the musculoskeletal model of the human lower extremity by comparative study between calculated muscle parameters through simulation using modified hill-type model and measured muscle parameters through isokinetic exercise. The relationship between muscle forces and moments participated in motion was quantified from the results of simulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For simulation of isokinetic motion, a three-dimensional anatomical knee model was constructed using gait analysis. The EMG-force model was used to determine muscle activation level exciting muscles. The modified Hill-type model was used to calculate individual muscle force and moment in dynamic analysis. This method was validated by comparing analytical data with experimental data. RESULTS: The results showed that there was a significant correlation between calculated torques from simulation and measured torque from isokinetic motion experiments (R=0.97). We also found that muscle forces and moments during knee flexion and extension have nonlinearly proportional or inversely proportional relationship, since lower extremity muscles were simultaneously involved in flexion/extension motion and inner/outer rotation. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the simulation by using musculoskeletal model may be a useful mean to predict and recover musculoskeletal-related diseases, and analyze complicated experiment such as clash condition.
Gait ; Humans ; Knee Joint* ; Knee* ; Lower Extremity ; Muscles ; Torque

Background: This study examined the relationship of infant feeding with anthropometric indices of children during their first six years of life relative to the Korean National Growth Charts (KNGC) and the World Health Organization Child Growth Standards (WHO-CGS). Methods: The study population consisted of 547,669 Korean infants and children who were 6 months-old to 6 years-old (born in 2008–2009) and participated in the National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children. Data on height, weight, and type of feeding during the first 6 months (exclusively breastfed [BF] vs. mixed- or formula-fed [FF]) were analyzed. Results: BF boys and girls were significantly shorter and lighter than FF counterparts from the age of 6 months to 4 years, but these differences were not significant after the age of 4 years. BF boys and girls only had significantly lower body mass index at the age of 2 years. Under the age of 2 years 6 months, and especially under the age of 1 year, BF boys and girls were significantly taller and heavier than the 50th percentile values of the 50th percentile value of the WHO-CGS. Conclusion In this study using large-scaled national data, Korean breastfed children are shorter and lighter by 3 years 6 months–4 years 6 months, but afterward, there is no significant difference from those who had mixed- or formula-feeding. Substantial disparities in the anthropometric indices of Korean infants under the age of 1 compared to KNCG and WHO-CGS were found, regardless of their infantile feeding types. Our results emphasize the importance of constructing a nationwide reference chart based on actual measurements of BF Korean infants.

International migrants could be considered a risk group susceptible to vaccine-preventable diseases. We conducted a measles seroprevalence study among 419 marriage migrant women living in Sinan-gun and Wando-gun, South Jeolla Province, located in the southwestern part of Korea. The overall seroimmunity was 92.8%. The seroimmunity varied considerably according to the country of origin and increased with age. Our current analysis could be valuable in the context of discussions concerning vaccination policies for immigrants in Korea.

OBJECTIVE: The authors have aimed to compare the efficacy of the computed tomography with other study methods, and to investigate if replacement by computed tomography is possible METHODS: From January 1998 to December 2002, 203 cervical cancer patients underwent pre-staging studies including computed tomography. The positive predictive values, negative predictive values, sensitivity, specificity of each method of study were compared. RESULTS: 1. Compared computed tomography with intravenous pyelonephrography. Each values of computed tomography for hydronephrosis or non visualization of kidney were sensitivity 91.7%, specificity 97.8%, positive predictive values 84.6%, negative predictive values 98.9%. 2. Compared computed tomography with cystoscopy. Each values of computed tomography for bladder invasion were sensitivity 90%, specificity 95.8%, positive predictive values 52.9%, negative predictive values 99.4%. 3. Compared computed tomography with sigmoidoscopy. Each values of computed tomography for rectal invasion were sensitivity 80%, specificity 94.4%, positive predictive values 26.6%, negative predictive values 99.4%. CONCLUSION: Rather than routine examination for staging of invasive cervical cancer in all patients, it is more ideal to first take a non invasive technique. then perform on intravenous pyelonephrography, cystoscopy and sigmoidoscopy only in patient showing positive findings of hydronephrosis or non visualization of kidney, bladder or rectal invasion on computed tomography.
Cervix Uteri* ; Cystoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Kidney ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Urinary Bladder ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Angiosarcoma is defined as a malignant tumor of the endothelial cells present in blood vessels and represents less than 1% of all soft tissue sarcomas. Primary uterine angiosarcomas are particularly rare, and tend to have poor prognosis mostly related to the aggressive nature and the metastatic potential of these tumors. They present most commonly with vaginal bleeding or with weight loss and a pelvic mass. Although postoperative radiation and combination chemotherapy are options being utilized, the results have only shown limited success. We report a case of primary uterine angiosarcoma with a brief review of literature.
Blood Vessels ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Endothelial Cells ; Hemangiosarcoma* ; Prognosis ; Sarcoma ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: To conduct a nationwide survery on the principles in radiotherapy for rectal cancer, and develop the framework of a database of Korean Patterns of Care Study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A consensus committee was established to develop a tool for measuring the patterns in radiotherapy protocols for rectal cancer. The panel was composed of radiation oncologists from 18 hospitals in Seoul Metropolitan area. The committee developed a survey format to analyze radiation oncologist's treatment principles for rectal cancer. The survey items developed for measuring the treatment principles were composed of 1) 8 eligibility criteria, 2) 20 items for staging work-ups and prognostic factors, 3) 7 items for principles of combined surgery and chemotherapy, 4) 9 patient set-ups, 5) 19 determining radiation fields, 6) 5 radiotherapy treatment plans, 7) 4 physical/laboratory examination to monitor a patient's condition during treatment, and 8) 10 follow-up evaluations. These items were sent to radiation oncologists in charge of gastrointestinal malignancies in all hospitals (48 hospitals) in Korea to which 30 replies were received (63%). RESULTS: Most of the survey items were replied to without no major differences between the repliers, but with the following items only 50% of repliers were in agreement:1) indications of preoperative radiation, 2) use of endorectal ultrasound, CT scan, and bone scan for staging work-ups, 3) principles of combining chemotherapy with radiotherapy, 4) use of contrast material for small bowel delineation during simulation, 5) determination of field margins, and 6) use of CEA and colonoscopy for follow-up evaluations. CONCLUSION: The items where considerable disagreement was shown among the radiation oncologists seemed to make no serious difference in the treatment outcome, but a practical and reasonable consensus should be reached by the committee, with logical processes of agreement. These items can be used for a basic database for the Patterns of Care Study, which will survey the practical radiotherapy patterns for rectal cancer in Korea.
Colonoscopy ; Consensus ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Logic ; Radiotherapy ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Seoul ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography

METHODS: The efficiency of electroporation-based delivery of AsCpf1/mRNA and AsCpf1/RNP to target exon 3 of leukemia inhibitory factor (Lif) into mouse zygotes was evaluated. Embryos that developed to the two-cell stage after zygote electroporation were transferred into the oviducts of surrogate mothers to produce AsCpf1-mediated LIF KO mice. The genome editing efficiency of blastocysts and pups was tested using the T7E1 assay and/or DNA sequencing. Congenital abnormalities and reproductive phenotypes in LIF KO mice produced by electroporation with AsCpf1/RNP were examined. RESULTS: Survival and two-cell development of electroporated zygotes were comparable between the AsCpf1/mRNA and AsCpf1/RNP groups, whereas genome editing efficiency was relatively higher in the AsCpf1/RNP group (13.3% vs 18.1% at blastocyst and 33.3% vs 45.5% at offspring), respectively. Two mouse lines with a frameshift mutation in exon 3 of the Lif gene were established from the AsCpf1/RNP group. All congenital abnormalities of LIF KO mice produced by AsCpf1/RNP electroporation were observed. AsCpf1-mediated LIF KO mice showed postnatal growth retardation and implantation failure, both of which are major phenotypes of LIF KO mice generated by conventional gene targeting. CONCLUSION Electroporation of AsCpf1/RNP at the zygote stage is an efficient genome editing method to produce KO mice.

METHODS: The efficiency of electroporation-based delivery of AsCpf1/mRNA and AsCpf1/RNP to target exon 3 of leukemia inhibitory factor (Lif) into mouse zygotes was evaluated. Embryos that developed to the two-cell stage after zygote electroporation were transferred into the oviducts of surrogate mothers to produce AsCpf1-mediated LIF KO mice. The genome editing efficiency of blastocysts and pups was tested using the T7E1 assay and/or DNA sequencing. Congenital abnormalities and reproductive phenotypes in LIF KO mice produced by electroporation with AsCpf1/RNP were examined. RESULTS: Survival and two-cell development of electroporated zygotes were comparable between the AsCpf1/mRNA and AsCpf1/RNP groups, whereas genome editing efficiency was relatively higher in the AsCpf1/RNP group (13.3% vs 18.1% at blastocyst and 33.3% vs 45.5% at offspring), respectively. Two mouse lines with a frameshift mutation in exon 3 of the Lif gene were established from the AsCpf1/RNP group. All congenital abnormalities of LIF KO mice produced by AsCpf1/RNP electroporation were observed. AsCpf1-mediated LIF KO mice showed postnatal growth retardation and implantation failure, both of which are major phenotypes of LIF KO mice generated by conventional gene targeting. CONCLUSION Electroporation of AsCpf1/RNP at the zygote stage is an efficient genome editing method to produce KO mice.