About 80% of premenopausal women experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS), but the definite etiology or effective treatment is still under the investigation. In this study, serum and tissue mineral analysis, which are essential for biosynthesis and secretory regulation of neurotransmitters, We evaluate what kind of changes in mineral levels is correlated to the presence of PMS. This study also include the approaches that entail changes to diet and lifestyle so that symptoms of premenstrual disorders can be alleviated. 61 women who were recruited on volunteer basis and completed Modified Moss Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MMDQ) and devided into 2 groups, scored less than 10 points, as control group, and women scored higher than 11 points, as PMS group. They were asked to fill out questionnaires about their diet patterns and submitted to tissue mineral and serum analysis to evaluate the levels of Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cu, and Zn. In the control group, serum Mg and Zn were relatively high but within normal reference range, but showed high level of Mg and Zn in tissue. For Mini Dietary Assessment Index (MDAI), the score of control group was 33.8 and that of PMS group 19.7, showed statistical significance (P<0.05). The score of daily calcium-taking group was 21.6+/-3.7 whereas that of seldom calcium-taking group was 39.6+/-6.2 (P<0.05). The score of daily magnesium-taking group was 9.75+/-2.7 whereas that of seldom magnesium-taking group was 26.0+/-4.9 (P<0.05). In this study, we conclude the importance of dietary and lifestyle modifications could prevent and treat symptoms of PMS and minerals had significant roles of regulating PMS especially Ca, Mg and Zn. Further studies about roles of these minerals and possible therapeutic applications using minerals in PMS are needed.
Calcium ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Life Style ; Magnesium ; Minerals ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Premenstrual Syndrome* ; Surveys and Questionnaire ; Reference Values ; Volunteers ; Zinc

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the number of normal vaginal deliveries influences lower urogenital system function and the incidence of incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The POP-Q (Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantitation) examination was performed in 217 premenopausal women who visited our hospital for routine check up. They were asked to fill in the Bristol female lower urinary tract symptom (BFLUTS) and self-report questionnaire for fecal incontinence and constipation assessment questionnaires. Exclusion criteria included patients with a history of pelvic surgery, BMI >25, chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, colon disease or smoking. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the vaginal delivery group and none vaginal delivery group in the point Aa, Ba, Ap, Bp and Tvl in POP-Q (P<0.05). The patients were classified into four groups (0, 1, 2,above 3) according to the number of vaginal deliveries, and the incidences of fecal incontinence were 4%, 29%, 32%, 26% in each group, respectively. The incidence of fecal incontinence was significantly lower (P<0.05) in those who did not deliver vaginally, while no difference was observed in the number of vaginal deliveries. The BFLUTS-IS (incontinence symptom) score was higher in the patients with higher number of vaginal deliveries (P<0.05). There were also more patients with sexual dysfunction as was shown by the BFLUTS-sex questionnaire (P<0.05) in those patients with higher number of vaginal deliveries. CONCLUSION: We observed that the number of vaginal delivery is significantly associated with the incidence of fecal and urinary incontinence, and also that it was a major cause of disorders of the pelvic floor and sexual dysfunction.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Colon ; Constipation ; Fecal Incontinence ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung Diseases ; Pelvic Floor ; Prolapse ; Surveys and Questionnaire ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Urinary Incontinence ; Urinary Tract ; Urogenital System*

A 41-year-old woman was operated under the impression of ovarian malignancy. The ovarian mass was diagnosed as a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, diffuse large cell type of B lineage pathologically. Because regional lymph nodes and bone marrow were not involved and Ga67 whole body bone scan was normal, we suspected that ovary was a primary site of lymphoma. After six cycles of CHOP (cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine, prednisone) chemotherapy, complete remission status was maintained for 16 months. We report a case of primary ovarian lymphoma with a review of literatures.
Adult ; Bone Marrow ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphoma* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Ovary* ; Vincristine

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation of level of leptin in cord blood and duration of labor. METHODS: Eighty-four pregnant women who had delivered during Jan. 2004-Jun. 2004. at the delivery unit of St. Mary's Hospital of Catholic University Medical College. We checked the level of leptin in cord blood, total duration of labor (cervix 3 cm-delivery of placenta), age of pregnant women, body weight before pregnancy, body weight before delivery, weight of the baby and placenta, head circumference, abdominal circumference, and height of the baby. Leptin was checked by ELISA. RESULTS: Cord blood leptin was in proportion to one's pregnancy duration (umbilical vein p<0.01, umbilical artery p<0.05), change of body weight (p<0.05), weight of placenta (p<0.01), weight of newborn (umbilical artery p<0.01, umbilical vein p<0.05), baby's abdominal circumference (umbilical vein p<0.01, umbilical artery p<0.05). Leptin was in inverse proportion to head circumference of new born infant in umbilical artery (p<0.01) and in umbilical vein (p<0.05). Level of leptin in umbilical vein was in proportion to duration of labor (p<0.05). When the labor duration exceeded 8 hours, leptin in cord blood decreased suddenly, but within 8 hours, their correlation coefficient showed a strong relationship (p<0.01) between the labor duration and leptin level in cord blood. CONCLUSION: Duration of labor affects the level of leptin in cord blood.
Arteries ; Body Weight ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fetal Blood* ; Head ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Leptin* ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Umbilical Arteries ; Umbilical Veins ; Veins

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of annexin-I in human cervical cancer, we evaluated the expression of annexin-I and the relation with the proliferation of cancer cells. Methods: By immunohistochemical analysis and the western blotting of annexin-I , we investigated the extent and distribution of the expression of annexin-I in cervical cancer tissues. After treating the human cancer cell lines ( SiHa and HeLa cell lines ) with tamoxifen, estradiol, and retinoic acid for 5 days to make the cells proliferate and antiproliferate, we measured the proliferation simultaneously with 3-(4,5- dimethyl thiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetr -azolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay and the expression level of annexin-I with flowcytometry. RESULTS: In the immunohistochemical stains, a granular staining pattern involving the entire cytoplasm was more heavily observed in malignant lesions than in normals. In the western blotting, the antibodies against 35-kDa annexin-I appeared to react more strongly with the lysates of cancer tissues than normal and benign tissues. In SiHa and HeLa cell lines with tamoxifen and beta- estradiol treatment, increased expressions of annexin-I were noted with correlated increased proliferation of cells, and with the treatments of all trans retinoic acid, decreased expressions of annexin-I were noted with correlated decreased proliferation of cells. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the expression of annexin-I might correlate with cervical cancer than normal and the proliferation of cancer cells.
Antibodies ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation* ; Coloring Agents ; Cytoplasm ; Estradiol ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Tamoxifen ; Tretinoin ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of symptoms, diagnostic procedures, infertility, obstetrical complications, and surgical corrections in women with congenital uterine anomalies. METHODS: Between January 1990 and December 2007, 110 patients diagnosed with uterine anomalies from Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, the Catholic University of Korea were included in this study. The charts of patients were reviewed retrospectively for uterine anomaly type, clinical symptom, diagnostic workup, fertility, fetal presentation, and uteroplasty. Congenital anomaly was categorized according to classification by the American Fertility Society (1988). RESULTS: Uterine anomaly was noticed in 1 in 752 patients (0.13%) who visited the inpatient department. The diagnosis was made by pelvic ultrasonography and manual examination (45.5%), incidental discovery during Cesarean section (24.5%), and other surgical procedures and salpingography. Most common types of uterine anomaly were bicornuate uterus (42 cases, 38.2%) and uterine didelphys (39 cases, 35.5%). Renal anomaly was accompanied in 21 patients (19.1%), frequently associated with bicornuate uterus and uterine didelphys. Uteroplasty was performed in 26 patients with 9 cases of bicornuate uterus (34.6%) and 8 cases of septate uterus (30.8%). The cases diagnosed incidentally during prenatal ultrasound examination were 35.5%. Other initial symptoms were dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain and habitual abortion. Primary infertility was reported in 3 cases (2.7%) which was fewer than abortion. Primary dysmenorrhea was observed in 2 cases (1.8%). One case of PID (0.9%) and one asymptomatic case were noted. Among 241 pregnancies, there were 46.9% full term birth, 24.34% abortion, 9.5% preterm birth, and 0.83% ectopic pregnancy. Fetal presentations were 16.67% breech and 1.51% transverse lie. Cesarean section rate was 81.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Women with uterine anomaly complain symptoms such as dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain, but most are aymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally. They are frequently accompanied with urologic anomalies and complicated with obstetrical challenges such as preterm labor, habitual abortion, malpresentation, intrauterine growth retardation and uterine atony. Thus, when diagnosis of uterine anomaly is made, it is crucial to discuss sufficiently with patients about their expected prognosis on fertility and possible obstetrical outcomes and complications and to provide appropriate therapy accordingly.
Abortion, Habitual ; Cesarean Section ; Dysmenorrhea ; Female ; Fertility ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Humans ; Hysterosalpingography ; Incidental Findings ; Infertility ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Labor Presentation ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pelvic Pain ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Premature Birth ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Term Birth ; Urogenital Abnormalities ; Uterine Inertia ; Uterus