OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between amniotic fluid interleukin-8 and the presence, severity and pattern of acute inflammatory lesions in the placenta delivered after preterm labor with intact membranes. METHODS: The relationship between placental histologic finding and amniotic fluid interleukin-8 was examined in 46 consecutive patients who were admitted with the diagnosis of preterm labor with intact membranes and who delivered singleton gestations within 5 days. RESULTS: The prevalence of acute histologic chorioamnionitis was 63.0%(29/46) and that of positive amniotic fluid culture was 17.4%(8/46). The most frequent site of histologic inflammation was chorion-decidua(56.5%, 26/46). The median amniotic fluid interleukin-8 increased significantly according to the presence and higher severity of inflammation in each type of placental section (p<0.05 for each). Three patterns of inflammation were identified in chorion-decidua: non-marginating, marginating, and mixed. Median amniotic fluid interleukin-8 and the rate of severe histologic chorioamnionitis (grade> or = 4) increased significantly in the order of non-marginating, marginating, and mixed (p<0.05 for each). CONCLUSION: Both the presence and greater severity of acute histologic chorioamnionitis are associated with an elevated amniotic fluid interleukin-8. A marginating and mixed pattern of inflammation are associated with a higher amniotic fluid interleukin-8. Amniotic fluid interleukin-8 is a reliable prenatal marker of histologic chorioamnionitis.
Amniotic Fluid* ; Chorioamnionitis ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation* ; Interleukin-8* ; Membranes ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to discover ways to screen urine culture specimens through Gram stains, urine stick analyses and microscopic examinations for the laboratory cost saving. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-eight urine specimens for culture were included. Fifty uL of urine were inoculated onto one well each of 10-well slide, dried on the hot plate, and Gram-stained. The results combined with routine urinalyses including urine nitrite and leukocyte esterase, and pyuria, were compared with the routine culture results. RESULTS: The screening of bacteriuria by Gram stains, urinalyses and microscopic examinations revealed the high sensitivity (91.9%) and negative predictive value(95.5%) with cost saving of 41.8% of inoculating media. Not considering the Gram stains, the screening revealed 83.8% sensitivity and 92.5% negative predictive value, even if the cost saving of inoculating media were as high as 50.1%. CONCLUSION: It was demonstrated that it was sensitive and economic and produced rapid preliminary results to screen bacteriuria by the Gram stains combined with urinalyses and microscopic examinations.
Bacteriuria ; Coloring Agents ; Cost Savings ; Leukocytes ; Mass Screening* ; Pyuria ; Urinalysis*

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic Ultrasonography(EUS), a combination of endoscopy and ultrasonography is one of the most useful tools for diagnosis of digestive system diseases. EUS is useful in staging the primary tumor invasion and regional lymph node metastasis because of its ability to image the gut wall and adjacent structures in unique detail. We performed a study preoperatively for assessing the accuracy and limitation of EUS in gastric carcinoma. METHODS: In 75 patients(Male 54, Female 21, Mean age 62.3 years) with a gastric carcinoma confirmed by endoscopic biopsy, we performed EUS preoperatively. The results were compared with the postoperative histopathologic staging. RESULTS: 1) In assessing the depth of tumor invasion, EUS accuracy on depth of invasion was 76.0% and overstaging and understaging were 14.7% and 9.3%, respectively. 2) In assessing the lymph node metastasis, the accuracy rate of EUS was 65.3%. A rate of false-positive diagnosis was 27.3%, and a rate of false-negative diagnosis was 24.5%.3) In assessing the incidence of lymph node metastasis for each T stage, the involve rate was 10.5% in pT1, 36.4% in pT2, 95.7% in pT3, 100% in pT4. CONCLUSIONS: EUS is the most accurate diagnostic methods presently available to determine tumor infiltration depth and lymph node metastasis.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Digestive System Diseases ; Endoscopy ; Endosonography* ; Esophagus* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intestines* ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Stomach* ; Ultrasonography

Nose is the most prominent of part of the face and prone to traumas. Therefore posttraumatic deformities are easily seen and play a major effect on the personal impression. Result of clinical analysis of nasal bone fracture that gives general understands and advices of diagnosis and treatment of nasal bone fracture is presented with reports discussed. The author has performed radiologic evaluation, clinical study and statistical analysis in 1488 cases of nasal bone fracture treated in Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inje University Sanggye Paik hospital, from March, 1992 to February, 2002 Most of operation were performed on 5th-10th posttraumatic days(80.7%), and 1040 cases were treated with closed reduction using C-arm. We could obtain satisfactory results using C-arm. In satisfaction rate, 1296 cases(87%) had satisfactory results. The rate of dissatisfaction was high in the patients performed operation after 11th posttraumatic days and who had septal fracture. The author used C-arm during closed reduction of nasal bone fracture and verified the outcomes intraoperatively and were able to get more accurate reduction. With this method, we could obtain satisfactory results cosmetically and functionally. We should follow-up for longer time and we think that further research will be needed in treatment of nasal bone fracture
Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Nasal Bone* ; Nose ; Plastics ; Retrospective Studies

Success of skin grafts depends on sufficient immobilization and early intervention for hematoma, seroma, or infection. To stabilize and cover skin grafts with a tie-over technique was used with translucent silicone gel sheet on flat surface. Skin defect was resurfaced with skin grafts. A sterile silicone gel sheet was placed over the skin graft. Gel was fixed to the wound edges with skin sutures. Skin graft healed without any complications. Using silicone gel sheet in skin graft on flat surface is an effective method for stabilization, which also allows direct visualization of the graft designed to inspect hematoma-like complications.
Bandages* ; Early Intervention (Education) ; Hematoma ; Immobilization ; Seroma ; Silicone Gels* ; Skin* ; Sutures ; Transplants* ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Electrohydraulic lithotrypsy(EHL) under cholangioscopic control has been performed for difficult bile duct stones. The percutaneous transhepatic approach is technically easy and useful in diagnosis and treatment of bile duct obstruction and stones. Biliary stenting with self expanding metal stent is gaining increasingly wider acceptance as a palliative treatment of bile duct obstruction. METHODS: Between Sep. 1994 and Sep. 1996, EHL under choledochoscopy by percutaneous transhepatic approach was performed in 30 cases(Male: 13, Female: 17). After PTBD with 7F pig tail catheter, the percutaneous transhepatic passage was dilated over guide wire with dilaters of increasing size up to 16Fr in 3-Sdays. In one week, after fistula had been estabilished, choledochoscopy was performed. RESULTS: (1) Mean age was 61.3 years. Mean stone number was 2.5. And mean stone size was 1.6 X 2.3 cm. (2) Com.plete removal of the stone was achieved in all patients(100%). (3) There were no serious complications. (4) In six cases, Endocoils were implanted with successful decompression of obstructions and simultaneous removal of biliary stones located at both side of stricutre. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous transhepatic choledochoscopy is easy and safe and assists in the diagnosis and treatment of biliary stricture and the management of difficult CBD stone.
Bile Ducts ; Catheters ; Cholestasis ; Common Bile Duct* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Decompression ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Palliative Care ; Stents

Collagenous colitis is an uncommon condition charaeterized clinically by diarrhea and weight loss and histologically by thickening of the subepithelial collagen band with chromic inflammation. Laboratory tests of blood, urine and stool, and colonscopic findings are usually normal. The etiology of collagenous colitis is unknown. We report a case of collagenous colitis improved after treatment with sulfasalazine with review of literatures.
Colitis, Collagenous* ; Collagen* ; Diarrhea ; Inflammation ; Sulfasalazine ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to compare the characteristics of demographic data, clinical features, and personality in male and female alcoholics and to identify the clinically meaningful differences in the etiologies and the clinical features between the two groups. METHODS: The study group was composed of 30 males and 21 females who were recruited into the inpatient treatment. The researchers used self-reporting questionnaire composed of demographic data and drinking patterns, Michigan alcoholism screening test(MAST), self-rating anxiety scale(SAS) and self-rating depression scale(SDS) of Zung, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory(MMPI), symptom Checklist-90-revision(SCL-90-R), and Eysenck personality questionnaire(EPQ) . The differences between the two groups were tested by chi-square test and independent-samples t-test. RESULTS: 1) Education level of female alcoholics was significantly less than that of male alcoholics(p<0.05) and the birth order of female alcoholics was significantly higher than that of male alcoholics(p<0.05). 2) The level of socioeconomic status of female alcoholics was significantly lower than that of male alcoholics(p<0.01). 3) The initial motivations of female alcoholics were mainly due to social, psychological, and intrafamilial problems while those of male alcoholics were due to social problems. There were significant differences between the two groups(p<0.05). 4) The onset of initial drinking in female alcoholics was significantly earlier than that of male alcoholics(p<0.001). 5) The average amount of daily drinking in female alcoholics was significantly less than that of male alcoholics(p<0.01). 6) Withdrawal symptoms, physical disorders, and social or legal problems induced by alcohol drinking in female alcoholics were significantly less than those of male alcoholics(p<0.05) 7) The mean scores of PY scale of SCL90R and of L scale of EPQ in female alcoholics were significantly higher than those of male alcoholics(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Demographic and psychosocial factors differed to a significant degree between male and female alcoholism. We suggest that these factors are more important in female alcoholism than in male one in the etiologies and the clinical features. These differences are due to more complex factors rather than simple ones, thus the further evaluations are needed to elucidate the differences in the etiologies between male and female alcoholism.
Alcohol Drinking ; Alcoholics* ; Alcoholism ; Anxiety ; Birth Order ; Depression ; Drinking ; Education ; Female* ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Male* ; Mass Screening ; Michigan ; Minnesota ; Psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Social Class ; Social Problems ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome

No abstract available.
HIV ; Humans* ; Mothers* ; Pregnancy*

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to determine the renal function by radioisotope renography and to compare the findings of radioisotope renography in the spinal cord injured patients to the clinical presentations and findings of other conventional urologic examinations. METHOD: Intravenous pyelogram(IVP), voiding cystourethrogram(VCUG) and urodynamic study were performed in twenty-five spinal cord injured patients along with serum BUN/Creatinine levels and 24 hour creatinine clearance tests. Technetium-99 m mercaptoacetyltriglycine was used for the radioisotope renography. RESULTS: One abnormal radioisotope renography finding was noted among 22 normal findings by IVP and VCUG studies, while no abnormal finding by IVP and VCUG studies was noted among the subjects with a normal radioisotope renography. Effective renal plasma flow(ERPF) was significantly lower in patients with lower creatinine clearance. ERPF, cortical retention and creatinine clearance values for hyperreflexic bladders were significantly different from areflexic bladders. ERPF was significantly higher in a clean intermittent catheterization group than in a percussion and Cred method group for the hyperreflexic bladders. CONCLUSION: The study proves that the radioisotope renography is a sensitive and valuable study to evaluate the renal dysfunction in the spinal cord injured patients.
Creatinine ; Humans ; Intermittent Urethral Catheterization ; Percussion ; Plasma ; Radioisotope Renography* ; Renal Plasma Flow, Effective ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urodynamics