OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of ASCUS(atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance) and LSIL(low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion) was introduced in 1988 by the Bethesda system for reporting cervical/vaginal cytologies. A significant proportion of women referred for colposcopy with low grade cervical cytologic abnormalities(ASCUS and LSIL) will have high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN II or CIN III) and therefore require adequate management. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the usefulness of high risk type HPV(human papillomavirus) DNA detection using PCR(polyerase chain reaction) in patients with low grade cervical cytologic abnormalities in the prediction of high grade CIN and invasive cancer and to determine the clinical triage in the management of low grade cervical cytologic abnormalities. METHODS: We reviewed 18,942 cases of Papanicolau smears that were performed at our hospital from Jan. 1995 to Mar. 1999. Colposcopically directed biopsy or LLETZ(large loop excision of transformation zone) or hysterectomy were performed on 318 patients with abnormal PAP smears of low degree. HPV PCR testing of high risk types(16 and 18) was also performed on 115 patients. RESULTS: Histologic outcome of ASCUS included 43 cases(38.4%) of high grade CIN and invasive cancer, and that of LSIL included 65 cases(47.5%) of high grade CIN and invasive cancer. In cases of high risk HPV type, 19 patients(73.1%) were at age over 30 years. A highly significant correlation was found between a positive test for high risk types of HPV and finding of high grade CIN and invasive cancer. Among 51 women with ASCUS, a positive test for high risk type had a sensitivity and specificity of 40.0% and 86.1%, and positive predictive value(PPV) and negative predictive value(NPV) of 54.5% and 77.5%, respectively. In 64 women with LSIL, a positive high risk type test was associated with sensitivity and specificity of 30.0% and 94.1%, and PPV and NPV of 81.8% and 60.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that high risk type HPV may be positively predictive of and may act as a surrogate marker for high grade CIN and invasive cancer in women with low grade cervical cytologic abnormalities. The management of women with a low grade cervical cytologic abnormalities should be active such as colposcopically directed biopsies.
Biomarkers ; Biopsy ; Colposcopy ; Diagnosis ; DNA* ; Female ; Humans* ; Hysterectomy ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Triage

The authors reviewed surgical materials from 20 patients with carcinoma of the extrahepatic biliary system, and a correlation between macroscopic appearance of the tumors with various clinical features and histopathologic findings was made. Microscopically, the tumors were classified into four types; Four (21%) patients had polypoid tumors, six (32%) had nodular growths, five (26%) were scirrhous constricting in type, and four (21%) had diffusely infiltrating type. Histologically all the differentiation in two cases. The degree of differentiation of the tumors was classified into 3 types: 11 (55%) patients were well differentiated, 3(15%) were moderately well and 6(30%) were poorly differentiated. All polypoid tumors were well differentiated and had low stage. No correlation in the degree of differentiation of the tumor with the stage was present. No correlation in clinical symptoms, duration of symptoms, laboratory findings with morphologic findings of the tumors was noted.

Between April, 1984 and September 1988, 459 patients underwent cardiovascular surgery at the Yeungnam University Hospital. Of these, 355 cases were open heart surgeries and 104 cases were non-open heart surgeries. There were 237 patients of acyanotic congenital cardiac anomalies, 40 patients of cyanotic congenital cardiac anomalies, and 85 patients of acquired heart diseases. The sex ratio of cardiovascular diseases was represented as 1:1.3 in male and female. The age distribution was ranged from 1 day to 65 years old. The common congenital cardiovascular anomalies were ventricular septal defect (38.7%), patent ductus arteriosus (25.5%), atrial septal defect (20.7%), Tetralogy of Fallot (8.3%), and pulmonary stenosis (2.4%) in order of frequency. Among 87 acquired cardiovascular diseases, 81 patients underwent operation for cardiac valvular lesions, 51 patients had mitral valve replacement and 13 patients had aortic valve replacement and 17 patients had double valve replacement. The overall mortality of cardiovascular surgery was 3.3% and mortality of open heart surgery was 3.9%.
Age Distribution ; Aortic Valve ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Clinical Study* ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Mortality ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; Sex Ratio ; Tetralogy of Fallot ; Thoracic Surgery

No abstract available.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Sputum*

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Lymphokines* ; Monocytes* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium*

No abstract available.
Antibody Formation* ; Lymphocytes* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test effects of fatigue reduction program for women workers at a food production company. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design was conducted. Eighteen workers in vitamin E group, 16 workers in vitamin E and stretching group, and 18 workers in stretching only group participated. Participants were evaluated at baseline and 8 weeks. RESULTS: The results showed that stretching only group had a significant impact on reducing of fatigue level compared to those of a vitamin E group. CONCLUSION: Although vitamin E supplement has not shown decreasing fatigue level, the positive effect of stretching exercise may have high applicability to a workplace.
Fatigue* ; Female ; Humans ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

Extravasation of toxic chemotherapeutic 'agents cause severe skin ulceration and necrosis which often need secondary surgical intervention. Still, there were not established antidote agent in case of extravasation with mitomycin-c. Dimethyl sulfoxide is known as an effective chemical scavenger of toxic hydroxyl free radical and sodium thiosulfate also was demonstrated significant protector from mitomycin-c induced ulceration by a few experimental studies. Author investigated necrotic area of mitomycin-c injected site and compare to the effectiveness of topical treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide and intradermal injection of sodium thiosulfate according to starting times, forty five mice were divided into 3 groups. Control group(n=5) had no treatment after subcutaneous injection of mitomycin-c. Experimental group I and 11 were 20 mice treated dimethyl sulfoxide and sodium.
Animals ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; Injections, Intradermal ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Mice ; Mitomycin* ; Necrosis* ; Skin Ulcer ; Sodium* ; Ulcer

The long QT syndromes have been classified into acquired or inheritary forms, both of which are associated with a characteristic type of life-threatening polymorphic ventricular tachycardia called torsade de points. Beta-adrenergic blocker is the first cholic treatment, but in those whom cardiac events are not prevented by beta - blockade, left thoracic sympathetic ganglionectomy may be useful in selected cases. A 50-year-old woman had an recurrent syncopal attack in which she was unconscious for 1-2 min and 1-2 times a month for 10 years. The EKG revealed that QT & QTc intervals were 744 and 632 msec respectively. Treatment with Beta-adrenergic blocker and calcium channel blocker was ineffective in preventing recurrence of syncopal spell. Therefore, she underwent left thoracic sympathetic ganglionectomy with thoracoscope. During the 9 months after operation, she was free of syncopal episodes and is doing well.
Calcium Channels ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Ganglionectomy* ; Humans ; Long QT Syndrome* ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Syncope ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Thoracoscopes*

Isolated congenital aneurysm of the left atrium with intact pericardium is a rate anomaly, which usually presents with arrhythmia, cerebral embolism or abnormalities on routine chest X-ray. Surgery is indicated in most cases to eliminate a potential source of systemic emboli and arrhythmias. A 42-year-old woman having cervical cancer, she was suspected of having a left atrial aneurysm on review of chest X-ray and confirmed by echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. Surgical resection of Left atrial aneurysm was achieved without complication using median sternotomy with cardiopulmonary bypass. The postoperative course was uneventful.
Adult ; Aneurysm* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Atria* ; Humans ; Intracranial Embolism ; Pericardium ; Sternotomy ; Thorax ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms