During the reproductive period, human endometrium undergoes a pattern of cyclic change. Human endometrium undergoes a complex pattern of proliferation, secretory activity, and menstruation over an approximately 28 days period. Proliferative activity is highest during late proliferative phase under influence of estrogen, and minimal activity in the late secretory and menstrual phase. To study a possible change of telomerase activity during menstrual cycle, telomerase activities in normal and hormone treated endometrium were tested using telomerase repeat amplification protocol(TRAP) assay. Telomerase activities were detected in 9 of 10 proliferative endometrium(90%), and maximal activity was shown in late proliferative phase. Only 3 of 10 secretory endometrium(30%) revealed weak activity. However telomerase activity was not detected in menstrual phase endometrium(N 2) and senile endometrium(N=3). Four of tamoxifen treated endometrium(N 4) and 1 of provera treated endometrium(N 3) Levels of telomerase activity of treated endometrium(N 4) and late proliferative endometrium(N 6) were as high as them of detected in endometrial cancer and hyperplasia. Above findings reveal that telomerase activity of endometrium is changed according to menstrual cycle, And the level of telomerase activity is related to proliferative activity of endometrium that is dependent on the status of female sex steroid hormone and tamoxifen treatment.
Endometrial Neoplasms* ; Endometrium* ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate ; Menstrual Cycle ; Menstruation ; Reproduction ; Tamoxifen ; Telomerase*

It is a known fact that the increase of intraocular pressure results from the action of succinylcholine, endotracheal stimulation to carina, bucking and coughing etc during the induction arid recovery periods. Efforts have been made by several inveatigators to prevent intraocular hypertension by giving trimetaphan, inderal or curare. However, their effects were not remarkable. In this study, lidocaine Img/tg was administered intravenously to selectee patients 2-3 minutes hefore induction ; followed by regular induction with pentothal, succinylcholine and incubation. Intraocular pressures were measured at the pre-induction and post-intutation time, and every 30 minutes until the early recovery period, thereafter. The result of this study showed that the post-intubational increase of intraocular pressure was prevented in 86.7% of the lidocaine pretreated cases. The increase of post-extuba-tional intraocular pressure was also reduced significantly in the lidocaine pretreated group-as well. We came to the conclusion that lidocaine pretreatment technic can be used effectively to prevent intraocular hyperteilsion caused by induction and extubation in clinical practice.
Cough ; Curare ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intraocular Pressure ; Lidocaine* ; Propranolol ; Succinylcholine ; Thiopental ; Trimethaphan

BACKGROUND: Phenol is the most commonly used neurolytic agent for the management of intractable somatic pain, but side effects such as motor dysfunction and potential loss of bladder or rectal sphincter function develop following their application. This study observed functional changes of hind limb and neuropathologic changes in the sciatic nerve after phenol application, highlighting the time of nerve regeneration. METHODS: Functional changes in hind limbs were observed for 6 weeks and the distal part of the phenol-injected or dripped sciatic nerve was severed in 3 rats of each group respectively at 10 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks. The pathologic changes in the severed nerves were observed under the electron microscope. RESULTS: The phenol-injected or-dripped hind limbs showed more pronounced motor weakness and more obvious gait changes. About 2 weeks after the phenol application, gradual improvement of gait changes began, and after 6 weeks, motor weakness and gait changes were no longer perceptible. In the group with phenol injection, at 10 minutes after injection, destructive lesions were confined to unmyelinated fibers and the myelin sheath of small myelinated fibers. On the 3rd day and at 1 week, pathologic changes on axonal fibers and Schwann cells were in progress with phagocytosis in spite of myelin restitution. From 2 to 4 weeks, axonal regeneration and remyelination appeared concurrent with myelin disintegration and axonolysis, and histologic findings at 6 weeks were similar to those of the control group. In the group with phenol drip, the histologic changes in the sciatic nerve were very similar to the injection group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that histopathologic lesions after a phenol application on the peripheral nerves are not influenced by application methods. The progress of histopathologic changes is obvious according to the time interval following the phenol application. Accordingly, side effectsthat developed following the use of phenol may be improved around the time when the nerve regeneration occurs, between the second and fourth weeks after the injection. The course of histopathologic changes and clinical findings following the application of phenol is very similar to the previous experiment using alcohol.
Animals ; Axons ; Extremities ; Gait ; Myelin Sheath ; Nerve Regeneration ; Nociceptive Pain ; Peripheral Nerves ; Phagocytosis ; Phenol* ; Rats ; Regeneration ; Schwann Cells ; Sciatic Nerve* ; Urinary Bladder

The anatomy of the human epidural space was demonstrated in 8 patients by computed tomography (CT) examinations performed after epidural injection of water soluble radiographic contrast material into the L3-4 epidural space via Tuohy needle. The examinations showed the posterior epidural space to be divided by the plica mediana dorsalis and an additional transverse connective tissue plane. The compartmentalized nature of the space may be, at times, responsible for entrapment and coiling of epidural catheters, despite the satisfactory technical performance of catheterization for epidural anesthesia. All patients demonstrated a great amount of fatty tissue within the junction of the posterior midline epidural connective tissue structures, producing a triangular-shaped structure which might be an impediment to catheterization. The posterior epidural space is more easily filled with contrast media than the anterior epidural space. We also measured the depth of epidural space. The posterior epidural space was 2-6 mm deeper than the anterior epidural space. At the thoracic spine, the depth of the posterior epidural space was about 1-2 mm and the anterior space was under 1 mm or revealed trace. At the lumbar region, the depth of the posterior epidural space was about 4-7 mm. Air bubbles were noticed in the epidural space, especially around intervertebral foramen; therefore, it was suggested that the air bubbles can produce incomplete analgesia along the nerve roots.
Adipose Tissue ; Analgesia ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Connective Tissue ; Contrast Media ; Epidural Space* ; Humans* ; Injections, Epidural ; Lumbosacral Region ; Needles ; Spine

Home nursing interventions based on nursing diagnosis were implemented to the patient who are discharged from one hospital often the treatment for chronic neuromuscular system problem, and its effects were studied. The purpose of this study was to find out the effectiveness of hospital bounced home nursing provided by hospital nurses and to categorize home nursing diagnosis and its interventions. Data from experimental group patients were collected at three different time ; at the time of discharge, two weeks after discharge and our weeks after discharge. Data from control group patients were collected twice ; the first one at the time of discharge, and the other one four weeks after discharge. For this study nursing assessment and intervention booklet developed by the research team. There were no significant decrease of the number of nursing problems and life satisfaction. But daily activity level of patients showed the signs of significant improvement at the time of four weeks after discharge. Results of this study indicates that home nursing intervention based on nursing diagnosis provided the patients with noticeable difference in health maintenance, impairment of physical mobility, potential for infection, impaired home maintenance management, health seeking behavior, chronic pain, disuse syndrome, impaired skin integrity.
Chronic Pain ; Diagnosis ; Home Nursing* ; Humans ; Nursing Assessment ; Nursing Diagnosis* ; Nursing* ; Pamphlets ; Skin

E6 and E7 proteins produced by oncogenic HPV bind to the protein products of cellular tumor suppressor genes p53 and Rb, respectively. This mechanism has been suggested to contribute to the oncogenesis of HPV-infected carcinoma. The cells which are blocked the function of p53 and pub protein continue to divide by bypassing Ml stage known as antiproliferative mechanism but telomeres, the genetic elements at the ends of chromosomes, continue to shorten until the telomeres are so short that further replication is prevented(M2 stage). But telomeres can be maintained if telomerase is derepressed, giving rise to a immortal cell. The present study has been investigated the presence of HPV, telomere length and telomerase activation in cervical carcinomas. HPV DNA were detected by polymerase chain reaction in 17 of 19 precancerous lesions and cervical carcinoma specimens; HPV16 was detected in 12 cases, HPV18 in one case, HPV33 in two cases, and HPV58 in two cases. Overall, the prevalence of HPV was 89.5%. To study the difference of telomere length in cervical carcinomas and each normal counterpart, DNAs were digested with Hinf III and Rsa I to liberate the terminal restriction fragments(TRF). TRFs were resolved on agarose gels and detected by hybridization to the telomeric probe. This result indicated that there were no significant difference of TRF length in samples tested except two cases. TRF length of one carcinoma specimen was found to be significantly increased as compared with normal counterpart, but the other was found to be significantly decreased. Telomerase activity was detected in 4 of dysplasia specimens(5 cases), all of carcinoma in situ(CIS), and 6 of 8 invasive carcinoma. Overall, telomerase activity was detected in 84%. The degree of telomerase activity was high in 2 of dysplasia, 3 of CIS, and 3 of invasive carcinoma. And then there was no apparent association between HPV types and levels of telomerase activity. However, telomerase activity was depressed in invasive carcinoma as compared to dysplasia and CIS. These results suggest that HPV may be a possible causative agent in cervical carcinoma. In addition, telomerase activation may be necessary for the immortalization of cells and the progression of malignancy in cervical carcinoma.
Carcinogenesis ; Cervix Uteri* ; DNA ; Female ; Gels ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans* ; Papilloma* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Sepharose ; Telomerase* ; Telomere*

BACKGROUND: As the population of immunocompromised patients continues to grow, the incidence of infections caused by opportunistic filamentous fungi will continue to increase. Inhalation of fungal spores which are found in the environmental air precedes infection with molds. We investigated the relative frequency of various molds recovered from hospital air as compared to isolates from clinical specimens. METHODS: Air samples were taken from 83 sites in Chonnam University Hospital during December 1997. Air sampler (Biotest, Germany) with Rose Bengal agar strip (Biotest, Germany) was calibrated to take 40 liters of air. The strips were incubated at 37degrees C for 2-14 days. The results of air cultures were compared with those from the clinical specimens during a year (1997). RESULTS: Of 83 air samples cultured, 61 (73.5%) were positive for molds: 43 (51.8%) samples with 1-2 CFU, 15 (18.1 %) samples with 3-5 CFU, and 3 (3.6%) samples with > 5 CFU. A total of 184 molds were isolated and the most frequently recovered molds were Cladosporium (26.0%), followed by Penicillium (25.5%), Aspergillus (18.5%) and Alternaria (9.8%). The most frequently isolated molds from clinical specimens were Aspergillus (62.8%) and Fusarium (20.2%). For Aspergillus species, A. flavus (28,8%) and A. fumigates (25.4%) were predominant among the clinical isolates, whereas A sydowii (44.1%) and A. niger (38.2%) were common in the hospital air. CONCLUSION: This result shows that Cladosporium and Penicillium are the predominant molds in the hospital air and the relative frequency of molds recovered from hospital air is quite different from those of clinical isolates.
Agar ; Alternaria ; Aspergillus ; Cladosporium ; Fungi* ; Fusarium ; Immunocompromised Host ; Incidence ; Inhalation ; Jeollanam-do ; Niger ; Penicillium ; Rose Bengal ; Spores, Fungal

In this study, we designed to confirm the dietary effect of anti-obesity of fermented soybean curd residue (FSCR; SCR-Meju; Biji-meju) by A. oryzae, which is well known as a Korean traditional meju microbe. We observed that body weight gain, serum and hepatic lipid profile, as well as the activity of ROS generating enzyme and ROS scavenging enzyme in high-fat diet induced obese mice fed experimental diet (SCR and SCR-meju). Body weight gain and epididymal fat weight of HC (high-fat diet control) was markedly higher than that of NC (Normal control). Conversely, body weight gain and epididymal fat weight of the SCR (Biji) and SCR-meju (Biji-meju) group was significantly lower than that of HC; these of the SCR-meju group was lower than that of the SCR group. Furthermore, serum TG and total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol contents of SCR and SCR-meju groups were lower than that of HC, and HDL-cholesterol level of the SCR-meju group was significantly higher than that of HC. In conclusion, although precise mechanisms of the antiobese effects of SCR-meju in this study are unknown, the present study provides an experimental evidence that SCR-meju may prevent obesity and obesity related metabolic syndromes, such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension and diabetes, and liver disease by high-fat diet. Nevertheless, further study in this filed will be needed.
Animals ; Aspergillus oryzae* ; Aspergillus* ; Body Weight ; Diet ; Diet, High-Fat ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Liver Diseases ; Mice ; Mice, Obese ; Obesity ; Oryza ; Soybeans*

Intracranial astrocytoma is often discovered in third-fifth decade and occupies about 12% of the intracranial tumor patients. The concurrence of tumors of the brain and pregnancy is uncommon, moreover, astrocytoma of the brain in term pregnancy is very rare. Generally, astrocytoma is divided into six subgroups. Among them anaplastic astrocytoma is thought to be a malignant brain tumor. In the management of patients with brain tumor complicating pregnancy, judgments with regard to the optimal time for neurologic studies and operation and the mode of delivery are frequently difficult and occasionally controversial. We experienced a case of anaplastic astrocytoma of left frontal lobe, which was diagnosed by MR imaging at the third trimester of pregnancy. We report the case with a brief review of literature.
Astrocytoma* ; Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Female ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Judgment ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnancy*

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study were to examine the serum level of estradiol, estriol, progesterone, oxidized LDL in preeclamtic patients and to evaluate the protective effects of estrogen and progesterone against lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) induced cell death in Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS: We analysed the serum level of estradiol, estriol, progesterone, oxidized LDL in patients with preeclampsia and control. We used LPC to induce cell death in HUVECs. For cytotoxic assay, we did LDL assay for cell death and Resazurin assay for cell viability. HUVECs were exposed to various concentrations of LPC, LPC+estrogen, LPC+progesterone and we did cytotoxic assay. RESULTS: The serum estradiol, estriol were lower in the preeclamptic patients (P<0.05). Oxidized LDL were higher in the preeclamptic patients(P<0.05). LPC induced cell death in a concentration-dependant manner. Estrogen or progesterone inhibited LPC-induced cell death in a concentration-dependant manner (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Estrogen and progesterone attenuated LPC-induced cytotoxicity. The results suggest that Oxidized LDL induced endothelial damage in preeclampsia may be induced by low serum estradiol, estriol and progesterone levels and prevented by estrogen and progesterone addition.
Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Estradiol ; Estriol ; Estrogens* ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Lysophosphatidylcholines ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Progesterone*