No abstract available.
Holoprosencephaly*

The authors analyzed ultrasonographic findings of 112 cases of trophoblastic disases which were confirmed byD&E or hysterectomy at Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital from September 1980 to December 1984. The results were asfollows; 1. Of all 112 cases, hydatidiform moles were 99 cases, invasive moles were 3 cases and choriocarcinomas were 10 cases. 2. 81 cases (72%) occurred in 3rd decades. 3. The sized of uterus was large for gestational weeksin 65 cases(56%) and smaller in 13 cases(13%). 4. The contour of uterus was globular in 59 cases(53%), diffuse in49 cases(44%) and nodular in 4 cases(3%). 5. The internal echopatterns of uterus revealed numerous small vesicular snowstorm patterns in all cases, and revealed internal degeneration in 67 cases(60%). 6. Uterine walls in 89 cases(79%) were well delineated but uterine walls in 23 cases(21%) were poor delineated. 7. Multiseptated ovarian thecalutein cysts were seen in 36 cases (32%). 8. Invasive trophoblastic disease(invasive moles 3 cases andchoriocarcinomas 10 cases) revealed similiar ultrasonographic findings with H-mole, but more irregular internalechoes and irregular echoes in uterine wall. 9. Diagnostic accuracy was diagnostic in 98 cases (88%) , nonspecificin 11 cases (10%) and error in 3 cases(2%).
Choriocarcinoma ; Female ; Hydatidiform Mole ; Hydatidiform Mole, Invasive ; Hysterectomy ; Pregnancy ; Protestantism ; Trophoblasts ; Uterus

Ceramide has emerged as a novel second messenger for intracellular signalling. It is produced from sphingomyelin and is involved in the control of cell differntiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. C2- ceramide, short chain ceramide, plays a role in mediating contraction of cat esophageal smooth muscle cells. We examined the effect of synthesized ceramide analogues on the C2-ceramide and ACh-induced contraction in esophageal smooth muscle cells isolated with collagenase. CY3523, CY3525, or CY3723 inhibited C2-ceramide induced contraction, in a time dependent manne. Each analogue also inhibited the contraction in concentration dependent manners. CY 3523, CY 3525, and CY 3723 had no effect to the contraction induced by PMA. The inhibition with CY3523, CY3525 and CY3723 on the C2- ceramide induced contraction was recovered by PMA. These analogues decreased the density of MAPK bands (p44/42 or p38) in the western blot. These results suggest that ceramide analogues can inhibit C2-ceramide induced contraction via PKC and MAPK dependent pathway.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Cats ; Collagenases ; Contracts ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Negotiating ; Protein Kinase C ; Relaxation ; Second Messenger Systems ; Sphingosine

This research was performed to investigate the effects of NEP (Nutritional Education Practice) program developed by KHyDDI (Korea Hypertension Diabetes Daegu Initiative) for hypertension and diabetes patients. The subjects were 116 patients (hypertension 70, diabetes 46) who had completed basic education program at the education information center and four-session program was implemented for them. Nutrient intake was analyzed and compared before and after the program by 24-hr recall method and evaluate weight, waist circumference, body fat, blood pressure and eating habits in terms of nutrition knowledge, eating behavior, salty taste assessment. The improved results after the program were observed in weight, waist circumference, body fat ratio, blood pressure, slightly salty taste in salty taste assessment, nutrition knowledge, eating behavior, sodium, energy, carbohydrate and protein intake ratio to total energy (p < 0.001). Therefore, this program is effective in the improvement of weight, waist circumference and eating behavior, and the continued management would lead to the prevention of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases in the community.
Adipose Tissue ; Blood Pressure ; Eating ; Feeding Behavior ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Information Centers ; Nutrition Assessment ; Sodium ; Waist Circumference

PURPOSE: We studied the influence of preoperative bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) on postoperative continence rates and patient satisfaction after the midurethral sling procedure. METHODS: A total of 159 women who underwent the midurethral sling procedure were evaluated. Using the Blaivas-Groutz nomogram, we assigned the patients were assigned to Group I (n=37, no obstruction), Group II (n=89, mild obstruction), or Group III (n=33, moderate to severe obstruction). Continence rates, patient satisfaction, urinary sensation scale and uroflowmetry were evaluated postoperatively. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in continence rates, satisfaction, or postoperative maximal flow rate between the 3 groups. Postoperative urgency was improved after surgery in Groups I and II (P<0.05) but not in Group III. CONCLUSIONS: BOO does not seem to be a risk factor for failure after the midurethral sling procedure. However, BOO may be considered as a potential factor for persistent storage symptoms after the midurethral sling.
Female ; Humans ; Nomograms ; Patient Satisfaction ; Risk Factors ; Sensation ; Suburethral Slings ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; Urinary Incontinence ; Urinary Incontinence, Stress

PURPOSE: Drining of Nitrate-contaminated water has been the most common cause of acquired methemoglobinemia. We had cyanotic infant diagnosed as methemoglobinemia caused by feeding with powdered formula mixed with nitrate-contaminated ground water. METHODS: We had done epidemiologic investigation to identify the cause of an infant's methemoglobinemia. Analysis of ground water and blood test of involved family members and neighbors were performed RESULTS: Analysis of the 8 household ground water revealed high level of nitrate(29837 ppm), indicating contamination of water as the cause of methemoglobinemia. We had done blood tests to evaluate the methemoglobin level of 65 people in the neighborhood ; among them, there was no infant and we could not find another cyanotic case of methemoglobinemia. They had normal blood level of methemoglobinemic concentration. CONCLUSIONS: If ground water will be used for drinking water, especially for formula water, epidemiologic investigation and analysis of ground waters should be recommended.
Drinking Water ; Family Characteristics ; Groundwater* ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Infant ; Methemoglobin ; Methemoglobinemia* ; Residence Characteristics

PURPOSE: Tension-free vaginal tape(TVT) procedure is an effective surgical procedure for the treatment of female urinary stress incontinence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes of pelvic floor MR imaging findings after tension-free vaginal tape procedure on stress urinary incontinent women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty two women with complaint of stress urinary incontinence(mean age, 56 years; age range 32~73 years) were included in this study. Pelvic floor MR imaging were performed preoperatively and one month after surgery. The position of the bladder neck in relation to the pubococcygeal line, the position of the bladder neck in relation to a perpendicular line through the posterior edge of symphysis pubis, the angle of urethral inclination were measured. We also measured the position of anterior wall of the urethra in relation to posterior edge of the symphysis pubis and cystocele during resting and pelvic straining and thickness of the anterior wall. We compared all parameters between resting and stress. RESULTS: Twenty nine patients(91%) had normal voiding pattern after TVT procedure. three patients(9%) had voiding difficulty. The position and mobility of the bladder neck during straining showed significant improvement after surgery(p<0.01). During straining, the length between the urethra and the inferior edge of the pubic symphysis with mid-urethra angulation was shorten in twenty eight patients(88%). There is no significant difference among three groups in all parameters. However, 3 patients with voiding difficulty had the significant high bladder neck and moderate cystocele. CONCLUSION: The TVT procedure provides decrease of urethral hypermobility and increase of mid-urethral angulation. MR imaging demonstrate well that urinary continence after surgery is most probably achieved by creating a dynamic mid-urethral knee angulation by which the urethra is closed at stress. Postoperative voiding difficulty may be related to remaining cystocele and high bladder neck.
Cystocele ; Female* ; Humans ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neck ; Pelvic Floor* ; Pubic Symphysis ; Suburethral Slings* ; Urethra ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Incontinence* ; Urinary Incontinence, Stress

BACKGROUND: A poincare plot of the heart rate variability (HRV) allows for the quantitative display of the vagal tone in conscious humans. However, relatively little is known about standard deviation 1 (SD1) from the poincare plot reflecting the vagal tone and correlating with the high frequency (HF) spectral power of the HRV during general anesthesia. Thus, the association of SD1 from the poincare plot was examined, along with the HF spectral power of the HRV during general anesthesia. METHODS: Beat-to-beat electrocardiograms were recorded for 5 min in 23 patients (isoflurane group, n = 13; sevoflurane group, n = 10) before, during and after general anesthesia. The low frequency (LF) and HF spectral powers, the LF/HF ratio of the HRV and the SD1 and standard deviation 2 (SD2) from the poincare plot were calculated. RESULTS: Both the HF spectral power of the HRV and SD1 from the poincare plot were reduced following general anesthesia, but recovered thereafter. The recovery of both the HF spectral power and SD1 from the poincare plot in the sevoflurane group was faster than those in the isoflurane group. There were strong correlations between the HF spectral power and SD1 before, during and after anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the SD1 from the poincare plot is a useful and valid parameter for analysis of the vagal tone during general anesthesia.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General* ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Isoflurane

Scrub typhus develops after the individual is bitten by a trombiculid mite infected with Orientia tsutsugamushi. Since it has been reported that pneumonia is frequently observed in patients with scrub typhus, we investigated whether intranasal (i.n.) vaccination with the outer membrane protein of O. tsutsugamushi (OMPOT) would induce a protective immunity against O. tsutsugamushi infection. It was particular interest that when mice were infected with O. tsutsugamushi, the bacteria disseminated into the lungs, causing pneumonia. The i.n. vaccination with OMPOT induced IgG responses in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. The anti-O. tsutsugamushi IgA Abs in BAL fluid after the vaccination showed a high correlation of the protection against O. tsutsugamushi. The vaccination induced strong Ag-specific Th1 and Th17 responses in the both spleen and lungs. In conclusion, the current study demonstrated that i.n. vaccination with OMPOT elicited protective immunity against scrub typhus in mouse with O. tsutsugamushi infection causing subsequent pneumonia.

Background and Objectives: The relationship between the hospital percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) volumes and the in-hospital clinical outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains the subject of debate. This study aimed to determine whether the in-hospital clinical outcomes of patients with AMI in Korea are significantly associated with hospital PCI volumes. Methods: We selected and analyzed 17,121 cases of AMI, that is, 8,839 cases of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and 8,282 cases of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, enrolled in the 2014 Korean percutaneous coronary intervention (K-PCI) registry. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to hospital annual PCI volume, that is, to a high-volume group (≥400/year) or a low-volume group (<400/year). Major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) were defined as composites of death, cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), stent thrombosis, stroke, and need for urgent PCI during index admission after PCI. Results: Rates of MACCE and non-fatal MI were higher in the low-volume group than in the high-volume group (MACCE: 10.9% vs. 8.6%, p=0.001; non-fatal MI: 4.8% vs. 2.6%, p=0.001, respectively). Multivariate regression analysis showed PCI volume did not independently predict MACCE. Conclusions Hospital PCI volume was not found to be an independent predictor of in-hospital clinical outcomes in patients with AMI included in the 2014 K-PCI registry.