No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Biomarkers, Tumor*

No abstract available.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Fetal Death*

The reports of all amniocentesis samples received in our cytogenetic laboratory from 1986 to 1998 were reviewed to identify cases in which culture failure of amniocytes occurred. Medical records were then reviewed for the prenatal ultrasonographic findings, karyotype when available, and clinical outcome. We investigated the clinical aspects associated with second trimester amniotic fluid cell culture failure. During the study period, 5,325 second trimester amniotic fluid samples were processed, of which 42(0.8%) failed to yield a result. Ninety-seven percent of the samples were obtained before 24 weeks' gestation, mainly because of advanced maternal age. Three percent of the samples were obtained after 24 weeks' gestation. Culture failure was more common in samples obtained after or at 24 weeks' gestation(11.8%) than in those obtained before 24 weeks(0.44%)(p<0.05, chi-square test). This difference was also observed when the results were analysed according to the cases with known normal or abnormal karyotypes, The frequency of culture failure did not differ significantly between the groups with normal and abnormal karyotypes. We conduded that amniotic fluid cell culture failure is more common in advanced pregnancy and is not associated with a higher incidence of chromosomal abnormalities.
Abnormal Karyotype ; Amniocentesis ; Amniotic Fluid ; Cell Culture Techniques* ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetics ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Karyotype ; Maternal Age ; Medical Records ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second

No abstract available.
Saliva*

The use of steroids has long been reported many side effects. Steroid-induced mental disorder is one of many complications associated with corticosteroid therapy. Steroid psychosis is not common disease but it may be more popular due to high steroid therapy such as pulse therapy or high dose steroid therapy. Euphoria, irritability, insomnia, and hallucination are predominating symptoms. The dosage, duration of the treatment may not be correlated with the time of the onset, duration, severity, or type of mental disturbances, but the risk of developing psychosis is increased to the high dose of steroid. It is usually reversible on dose reduction or discontinuation of the drug.
Euphoria ; Hallucinations ; Mental Disorders ; Psychotic Disorders* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Steroids

No abstract available.
Female ; Fetal Heart* ; Heart Rate, Fetal* ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Fatigue is a common problem in medical students and is thought to be related to poor academic performance. Fatigue is expected to be highly related to dietary habits, but previous research was not enough. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between dietary habits and the prevalence of fatigue and also to give an update on basic research data for improving academic performance in medical students. METHODS: The study group consisted of 170 healthy second-year medical students attending three university school of medicine in Busan. They completed a questionnaire dealing with fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), dietary habits, lifestyle, and academic performance. RESULTS: On multivariate logistic regression analyses, skipping breakfast (completely skipping breakfast everyday versus having breakfast everyday; odds ratio 7.23; 95% confidence interval, 2.07 to 25.28; P = 0.002) was positively correlated with the complaints of fatigue. CONCLUSION: Skipping breakfast was associated with the complaints of fatigue in medical students.
Breakfast ; Fatigue ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Students, Medical ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: The ciprofibrate, 3rd generation fibrate derivative, is known as an effective hypolipidemic drug in both hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. We studied the efficacy and side effects of ciprofibrate dmonotherapy in patients with primary type II and type IV hyperlipidemia. METHOD: Patients who showed 12-hours fasting serum total cholesterol level more than 240mg% and/or serum triglyceride level more than 250mg% were enrolled to diet therapy. After 12 weeks of diet therapy serum lipid profiles were checked and the drug therapy was considered according to the above mentioned guidelines. The ciprofibrate 100mg p.o qd was administrated and the patients had regular follow-up every 6 weeks for 12 weeks. RESULTS: The total study population was 32 patients. Fifteen patients were type II hyperlipidemia and seventeen patients were type IV hyperlipidemia. The drug was well tolerated in all patients. There was mild gastrointestinal side effects in 9% of study patients but no patients discontinued ciprofibrate due to side effects. There was mild and transient serum CK elevation less than 3 times of baslines in 5(15%) patients. The LFT, serum uric acid, BUN and creatinine level did not show any significant changes during therapy. Serum total cholesterol and apolipoprotein B level in patients with type II hyperlipidemia showed significant reduction after 6week of therapy. The mean reduction was 25% and 32% respectively. Serum triglyceride level in patients with type IV hyperlipidemia decreased by 55%. The reduction of total cholesterol more than 25% could be achieved in 50% of type II hyperlipidemia and the reduction of triglyceride more than 25% could be achieved in 93% of type IV hyperlipidemia. CONCLUSION: The ciprofibrate is effective and sage hypolidipemic drug in patients with primary type II and type IV hyperlipidemia.
Apolipoproteins ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Diet Therapy ; Drug Therapy ; Fasting ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hyperlipidemias* ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Triglycerides ; Uric Acid

BACKGROUND: Fatigue is a common problem in male workers as they have responsibilities in both role in home and in work place. The use of functional food has been one of the popular choices for fatigue recovery. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of functional food usage and its relationship with fatigue in male workers. METHODS: The study subjects were male workers seen for health check up at a university hospital in Busan from May to July 2009. They completed a questionnaire including social factor, occupational factor, life style, functional food usage and disease status. The subjects were divided into groups according to fatigue severity. RESULTS: Among 770 subjects, 267 (34.7%) consumed functional food daily. Most of them used functional food to recover fatigue as a supplement nutrition by their wife's or surrounding person's recommendation. There were significant difference between fatigue and non-fatigue group in age, occupation satisfaction, alcohol drinking, and insomnia. The prevalence of fatigue was 37.8%. The functional food usage significantly increased with fatigue severity scale (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Fatigue is common problem in male workers. The functional food usage is relation with fatigue severity.
Alcohol Drinking ; Fatigue ; Functional Food ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Life Style ; Male ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Occupations ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Prevalence ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Workplace ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of polylactide resorbable film in preventing epidural fibrosis after lumbar laminotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six New Zealand male rabbits about fifteen month old, weighing 3.5 kg in average, were used. Uniform laminotomy windows measuring 7x7 mm were made on the left side of the spine at three lumber locations (L2, L3 and L4). The laminotomy window at second lumbar spine was left untreated and used as control group (Group 1). The lanimotomy window of 3rd lumbar spine was covered with free fat tissue (Group 2), and polylactide ( Surgi-Wrap(R)) resorbable film was inserted on the laminotomy window of 4th lumbar spine (Group 3). Twelve rabbits were euthanized at 4, 8 and 12 weeks each after operation for biochemical analysis of hydroxyproline content and histologic examination. RESULTS: 1. There was considerable reduction in the total collagen, ranging from 40~48% in the Group 2 or the Group 3 compared to the Group 1. There was no statistical difference between the Group 2 and the Group 3. 2. The extent of fibrosis and fibroblast density was significantly lower in the Group 2 or the Group 3 than in the Group 1. However, the extent of fibrosis and fibroblast density did not differ statistically between the Group 2 and the Group 3. 3. No significant statistical differences of the collagen content and the histologic findings in each group was demonstrated during experimental period. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that polylactide (Surgi-Wrap(R)) resorbable film may be a useful method for reduction of epidural fibrosis after lumbar laminotomy.
Collagen ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis* ; Humans ; Hydroxyproline ; Laminectomy* ; Male ; New Zealand ; Rabbits ; Spine