No abstract available.
Anemia* ; Chromatids* ; Humans ; Siblings*

To evaluate the predictive value of serum fibronectin and roll-over test for pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), we studies 79 patients between the twenty-eighth and thirty-second week of gestation from October 1995 to May 1996. The results were as follows . 1) There was no significant difference of mean diastolic pressure difference in roll-over test and serum fibronectin levels between 13 PIH patients and 66 controls. Between two groups of patients, mean diastolic blood pressure differences were 14.3+/-3.9mmHg, 12.0+/-4.4mmHg and mean serum fibronectin levels were 231.2+/-90.8 pg/ml, 196.5+/-61.2 pg/ml respectively(p> 0.1). 2) For prediction of PIH, the sensitivity, the positive predictive value and the negative predictive value of roll-over test were 8%, 14% and 83%.
Blood Pressure ; Female ; Fibronectins* ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy*

Rat thalamocortical slices maintain synoptic connections between thalamus and cortex. When perfused with low Mg++-ACSF, thalamocortical slices exhibited two main types of spontaneous bursting activity. One is monotonic burst of 3-15 Hz and another is multiphasic bursts which have a tonic burst firing period and a late phase of clonic burst firing. These bursts are similar in frequency and during to EEG recordings from human generalized seizures. Exploiting the advantages of in vitro preparations, the electrophysiological action of taurine were studied. Exogeneous application of taurine profoundly decreased spontaneous bursting activities, which it caused only slight reduction of electrically evoked response in cortical layer. Taurine-induced current was blocked by 40 uM bicuculline, GABA receptor antagonist, in acutely isolated coritcal neurons. These results suggest that endogeneous taurine may regulate the hyperexcitablility through GABAa receptor.
Animals ; Bicuculline ; Electroencephalography ; Fires ; Humans ; Neurons ; Rats* ; Receptors, GABA ; Seizures* ; Taurine* ; Thalamus

Rat thalamocortical slices maintain synoptic connections between thalamus and cortex. When perfused with low Mg++-ACSF, thalamocortical slices exhibited two main types of spontaneous bursting activity. One is monotonic burst of 3-15 Hz and another is multiphasic bursts which have a tonic burst firing period and a late phase of clonic burst firing. These bursts are similar in frequency and during to EEG recordings from human generalized seizures. Exploiting the advantages of in vitro preparations, the electrophysiological action of taurine were studied. Exogeneous application of taurine profoundly decreased spontaneous bursting activities, which it caused only slight reduction of electrically evoked response in cortical layer. Taurine-induced current was blocked by 40 uM bicuculline, GABA receptor antagonist, in acutely isolated coritcal neurons. These results suggest that endogeneous taurine may regulate the hyperexcitablility through GABAa receptor.
Animals ; Bicuculline ; Electroencephalography ; Fires ; Humans ; Neurons ; Rats* ; Receptors, GABA ; Seizures* ; Taurine* ; Thalamus

Primary chondrosarcoma of the extraskeletal soft tissue is extremely rare. Extraskeletal chondrosarcoma was first described as entity in 1953 by Stout and Verner, who were able to collect a series of seven cases. Because of the rarity of this lesion in extremities, neither the clinical course nor the preferred method of treatment has been clearly established. Authors report a case of extraskeletal chondrosarcoma which occurred on the right forearm of a thirty-nine-year-old man. The lesion was completely excised with free resection margins. There was no recurrence or metastasis for four years follow up.
Chondrosarcoma ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forearm ; Methods ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence

The coronary artery cross sectional area (CSA) is proportional to LV mass. We have measured the cross sectional area of the left and right coronary arteries in patients with ischemic heart disease to see whether it is related to the change in the LV mass. The following results were obtained ; 1) There were no significant difference in mean CSA of coronary arteries and LV mass determined by echocardiography and cineangiography between control and ischemic heart disease. 2) There were significantly increased ratio of left ventricular mass by cineangiogram to CSA of left anterior descending coronary artery in patients with myocardial infarction as compared with control group. 3) A linear relation between LV mass by cineangiogram and CSA of left coronary artery was noted in control group (r=0.53, P<0.05) and ischemic heart disease group (r=0.51, P<0.05). 4) A linear relation between LV mass determined by echocardiography and CSA of left coronary artery was noted in control group (r=0.55, P<0.05).
Cineangiography ; Coronary Vessels* ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia

This study was performed to evaluate the utilization and outcomes of palivizumab in high risk children born prematurely with chronic lung disease (CLD). A retrospective review of 128 patients was conducted from September 2004 to March 2009 at the Ajou University Hospital. All patients were diagnosed with CLD, were born at < or =35 weeks of gestation, were <2 yr old at the onset of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season, and had received medical therapy within six months prior to the RSV season. Fifty-three patients did not receive palivizumab prophylaxis and 75 patients received at least one dose of palivizumab. There were no statistically significant differences between the patients with and without palivizumab prophylaxis with regard to demographic characteristics and risk factors for RSV infection. There were no systemic adverse responses. Compliance with the course of prophylaxis was 92.2%. Hospitalization associated with RSV occurred in 12 cases (22.6%) in the group without prophylaxis and in three cases (4.0%) with prophylaxis. Palivizumab prophylaxis significantly reduced the frequency of RSV-related hospitalization in preterm children with CLD. This is the first retrospective review of palivizumab prophylaxis in Korea. Palivizumab is effective and well tolerated in high risk prematurely born children.
Antibodies, Monoclonal/*therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/*complications/diagnosis ; Demography ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Premature Birth ; Republic of Korea ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/complications/*prevention & control ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome

Background: Nitric oxide(NO) has been reproted to play an important role in macrophage-mediated microbicidal capacity for a variety of intracellular pathogens. NO generation is used as an indicator of microbicidal function of macrophages. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose is to investigate the production of NO rom macrophages phagocytized with Mycobacterium leprae or M. leprae phenolic glycolipid-1(PGL-1) for the purpose of elucidating the pathogenesis of leprosy. METHODS: We used a murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. Macrophages were incubated with dead M. leprae or PGL-1, respectively and then treated with interfer n-gamma(IFN-r) and/or tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-a). The release of NO was determined spectrophotometrically by measuring nitrite. RESULTS: M. Leprae and PGL-1 failed to stimulnte NO secretion execept at high bacteria-to-cell rations(50:1)and at the higheat concentrat,ion(100pg/ml) of PGL-1. IFN-r or IFN-r plus TNF-a markedly stimulated macrophages phagocyt,ized with M. leprae or PGL-1 to release NO . CONCLUSION: Defective IFN-r-dependent NO production of macrophages may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of leprosy.
Cell Line ; Cytokines* ; Leprosy ; Macrophages* ; Mycobacterium leprae* ; Mycobacterium* ; Necrosis ; Nitric Oxide* ; Phenol*

Vascularized fibular graft is one of the treatment option for avascular necrosis of femoral head (ANFH) and has been known as providing a strut mechanical support and new vascular bed. It is very important to evaluate a healing process in femoral head after vascularization procedure. But a plain radiographic finding has a problem to assess pathological changes of ANFH treated with vascularized fibular graft. Authors analyzed chronogical changes of Tc-99m-HDP bone scan in 31 cases of ANFH treated with vascularized fibular graft from April, 1991 to May, 1994 and following results were obtained. l. Until 2 months after surgery, no change in size of cold defect area and no significant change in extent of RI uptake in reactive zone were noted. 2. During 2 months and 6 months after surgery, slight decrease in size of cold defect area and minimal changes in extent of RI uptake in reactive zone were observed. 3. During 6 months and 12 months after surgery, size of cold defect area decreased to 1/2 and changes in extent and degree of RI uptake in reactive zone were observed. 4. During 1 year and 2 years after surgery, size of cold defect area were minimal and sometimes faded away. RI uptake with decreased density in reactive zone broadened and moved to subchondral area. 5. After 2 years after surgery, cold area faded away and small increased RI uptake were observed in same site. In conclusion, Tc-99m-HDP bone scan which is economic and easily applicable in a patient is very useful for follow up study in ANFH treated with vascularized fibular graft.
Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Hip ; Humans ; Necrosis* ; Transplants*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the uroflow parameters of the pregnant women before delivery and immediate postpartum period. METHODS: Forty four patients delivered by spontaneous vaginal delivery (NVD group) and 46 patients by Cesarean section (C/SEC group) and 28 non-pregnant young women (Control group) were included in this study. Uroflow were checked 1 day before and 2 days after delivery by Jupiter 8000 (FM Wiest(R)) uroflowmetry. Mean value of the uroflow parameters in each group was compared using ANOVA t-test. For continuous data, linear associations with each of the uroflow parameters were assessed using a Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Maximal (18.48+/-5.21 mL/sec) and mean flow rate (9.45+/-3.73 mL/sec) of pregnant women were lower than control group (22.75+/-5.14 mL/sec), and were not changed after delivery (18.79+/-6.03 mL/ sec). Total flow time of pregnant woman (14.06+/-6.09 sec) was longer than control group (8.05+/-5.32 sec) before delivery, and increased after delivery especially after cesarean delivery. Time to peak flow of pregnant women (8.44+/-9.48 sec) was shorter than control group (16.33+/-6.11 sec) before delivery, and was similar to control group after delivery. Total voided volume (121.39+/-50.17 mL) was less than control group before delivery, and was increased after delivery (246.77+/-127.42 mL). Total voided volume after delivery was not different with control group statistically. CONCLUSION: There was no statistically differences before and after delivery in maximal flow rate, but was lower than non-pregnant women. Total flow time was much prolonged after delivery, especially after cesarean delivery. Time to peak flow and voided volume were restored to levels of non-pregnant women after delivery.
Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Humans ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women