No abstract available.
Child* ; Glomerulonephritis* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Adrenoleukodystrophy*

OBJECTIVE: Endometriosis is a disease affecting a large population of women all over the world. A local sterile inflammation occurs in the peritonel cavity of patients with endometriosis. It suggests that immunological events play a major role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. We have studied the levels of serveral T cell and monocyte derived cytokines, especially IL-6 (promoter of immune response) and IL-10 (inhibitor of immune response), in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis to characterize the change of immune response that occurs at the site of endometriosis. Method: This study was performed in Hallym university hospital from October, 1997 to October 1998 and enrolled 29 women with gross or microscopic findings of minimal to severe endometriosis in case group, and 28 women without visual evidence of pelvic endometriosis and with benign gynecologic disease in control group. IL-6 and IL-10 levels in the peritoneal fluid were determined using commercial ELISA and compared between endometriosis and controls and between fertile and infertile women with endometriosis and according to the revised American Fertility Society classification. RESULT: IL-6 was higher and IL-10 was lower in the peritoneal fluid of endometriosis group than of control group. Cyclic variations in the IL-6 concentrations were seen in endometriosis group : the concentrations in the secretory phase were significantly higher than those in the proliferative phase. In endometriosis group, IL-6 concentrations of infertile women were higher than fertile women. Both IL-6 and IL-10 in the peritoneal fluid of endomtriosis group did not show significant correlation according to r-AFS stages. CONCLUSION: Increased IL-6 and decreased IL-10 levels in the peritoneal fluid may be related to infertility and pathogenesis in the endometriosis, suggesting that partially contribute to the disturbed immune regulation observed in endometriosis.
Ascitic Fluid* ; Classification ; Cytokines ; Endometriosis* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fertility ; Genital Diseases, Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10* ; Interleukin-6* ; Monocytes

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the relationship between the levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the peritoneal fluid(PF) of women with and without endometriosis and infertile women. Design: Prospective and case-control study. Setting: University hospital. Patients: Twenty-nine women with laparotomy or laparoscopic findings of minimal to severe endometriosis, and twenty-eight women with no visual evidence of pelvic endometriosis and with benign gynecologic disease. Main Outcome Measures: PF IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were determined using commercial ELISA. IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations were compared among women with and without endometriosis, and with infertile and fertile women, and then also compared according the revised American Fertility Society classification. RESULTS: IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations were higher than in the PF of women with endometriosis than in matched normal controls. Cyclic variations in IL-6 concentrations were seen in PF from patients with endometriosis: the concentrations in the secretory phase were significantly higher than those in the proliferative phase. IL-6 concentrations were higher than in the PF among of infertile women than in fertile women. A significant correlation between PF IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations and endometriosis stage III and IV was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Increased PF levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in patients with endometriosis may be relate to endometriosis-associated infertility and to the pathogenesis of endometriosis suggesting that partially contribute to the disturbed immune regulation observed in patients with endometriosis.
Ascitic Fluid* ; Case-Control Studies ; Classification ; Endometriosis* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fertility ; Genital Diseases, Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular* ; Infertility ; Interleukin-6 ; Laparotomy ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Prospective Studies ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether hysterectomy by the vaginal route is safe and feasible in patients with previous pelvic operation. METHODS: A retrospective study of the records of Hallym University Hospistal patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomy performed by the senior author. Between January 1990 and January 1997, 212 patients who had previous pelvic operation were studied with special reference to operative difficulties, previous operation type, intraoperative complications, surgical time, hospital stay. RESULTS: 1. Patients characteristics was that ; The average age was 44.5+/-6.6 years old, the average parity was 2.3 , the average stay of hospitalization was 7.5+/-0.89 days, the frequency of Morcellation was in 24.5%, the average surgical time including associated procedure was 82+/-16.2 minutes, the average uterine weight was 164+/-85.1gm. 2. The most common previous pelvic operation was cesarean section(95 cases). 3. The most common indication was uterine myoma(51.9%). 4. Surgical technique used to gain access to the pouch of Douglas was done anteriorly; 52 patients of previous cesarean section(24.5%) and 112 patients of others operation(52.8%) were easily opened by blunt dissection, 43 patients of previous cesarean section(20.3%) and 5 patients of others operation(2.4%) were required sharp dissection. posterioly ; 190 patients(89.6%) were easily opened by blunt dissection, 22 patients(10.4%) were required sharp dissection. 5. Significant complications were bladder injury(1 case) , postoperative transfusion due to bleeding(6 cases). No cases of postoperative laparotomy was done and other minor compications were fever(15 cases), bladder retention(11 cases), others. CONCLUSIONS: It was possible to perform vaginal hysterectomy safely in patients with previous pelvic operation. Vaginal hysterectomy remains the method of choice for removal of the uterus of the previous pelvic operations in the absence of other contraindications.
Cesarean Section ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal* ; Intraoperative Complications ; Laparotomy ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder ; Uterus

A series of modified oligonucleotides containing P=S backbone and a six-membered azasugar (6-AZS) were synthesized and tested for their ability to inhibit human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in vitro without the aid of any transfecting agents. While P=S oligonucleotides with natural nucleotides had little anti-HIV-1 activity, six-membered azasugar nucleotide (6-AZN)-containing P=S oligonucleotides (AZPSON) potently inhibited the HIV-1/SHIV production and syncytium formation in vitro (EC50 = 0.02~0.2 micro M) without cytotoxicity up to 100 micro M. AZPSONs are enzymatically stable over 6 days in culture supernatant. Phosphodiester (P=O) backbone only or mixed backbone (P=O and P=S) oligonucleotides that contain 6-AZN did not exhibit anti-HIV-1 activity. The anti-HIV-1 capacity of AZPSON seems to depend on the number and/or distribution patterns of 6-AZN in the oligonucleotides. The oligomer 2198, most effective for anti-HIV-1 activity among the AZPSONs, was much more effective than ddI or ddC in anti-HIV activity. Particularly noteworthy is that the anti-HIV-1 activity of AZPSON-2198 was better than AZT in the long-lasting efficacy after a single treatment.
Giant Cells ; HIV ; HIV-1 ; Nucleotides ; Oligonucleotides ; Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides*

BACKGROUND: Epidural steroids injections are often used for the treatment of low back pain but their effects on the endocrine system have not been determined. Few studies have quantified the degree or duration of the suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in humans given epidural triamcinolone injection (ETI) for low back pain. The evaluation of the blood adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol was undertaken to determine the extent of suppression of the HPA axis in patients given ETI. METHODS: Lumbar epidural triamcinolone injections were performed on the painful lumbar intervertebral space with patients in the lateral decubitus position. The injection consisted of 40 mg of triamcinolone acetonide diluted in 10 mL of 1% lidocaine. Patients remained in the lateral position for 10 min after the procedure. Basal blood sampling was performed at 30 min before ETI and tested blood sampling was obtained at 7 days, 10 days, and 14 days after ETI. RESULTS: The blood cortisol level was significantly decreased at 7 days and 10 days but at 14 days was not significantly decreased and the blood ACTH level was not significantly decreased at 7 days, 10 days, and 14 days. CONCLUSIONS: Above results demonstrate that blood ACTH and cortisol level normalize 7 days and 14 days, respectively, after epidural triamcinolone 40 mg injection.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone* ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Endocrine System ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone* ; Lidocaine ; Low Back Pain ; Steroids ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; Triamcinolone*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

A perplexing developmental error is 46,XX congenital absence of vagina ( Mayer-Rokitan-sky-Kster-Hauser syndrome, Mullerian dysgenesis, vaginal aplasia ). The Mayer-Rokitansky-Kster-Hauser syndrome refers to the climical entity consisting of primary amenorrhea associated with congenital absence of the vagina, 46,XX karyototype, a rudimentary uterus or complete absense, normal overian function and normal ovulation, normal female breast development, body proprotion and body hair, frequent association of renal, skeletal and other cpngenital anomalies. This syndrome results from agenesis of both Mllerian ducts or from a failure of the Mllerian ducts to estavlish a proper communication with that part of the vagina from the urogenital sinus. A case of mayer-Rokitansky-Kster-Hauser syndrom was reviewed briefly.
Amenorrhea ; Breast ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Ovulation ; Uterus ; Vagina

A clinical study of the refractive and visual results with 104 consecutive implantations of the intraocular lens was performed between July 1984 and April 1986. Postoperative refraction of myopia was observed in 56.7% of patients, and emmetropia in 21.1%, hyperopia in 22.2%. Visual acuity of 0.5 or better at 2 month after operation was revealed in 88.9% of cases studied; 90.3% in 62 cases of posterior chamber lens implantations and 85.7% in 28 cases of anterior chamber lens implantations. There was no statistically significant difference between visual results after anterior chamber lerts and posterior chamber lens implantation.
Anterior Chamber ; Emmetropia ; Humans ; Hyperopia ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular* ; Lenses, Intraocular* ; Myopia ; Visual Acuity