OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics of obese infertile women. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Height, weight, body mass index, menstrual pattern, glucose, insulin, glucose / insulin ratio, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), testosterone, free testosterone and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) of 15 obese infertile women were tested. RESULTS: Of 15 obese infertile women, the number of diabetes mellitus, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance was 2 (13%), 2 (13%), 2 (13%), respectively. The incidence of increased DHEA-S, testosterone, and free testosterone was 7 (47%), 1 (7%), 6 (40%), respectively. Notably, all patients showed increased PAI-1. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity is associated with infertility as well as many kinds of health problems. Obesity is closely related to insulin resistance and it also causes hyperandrogenism. Increased PAI-1 is one of the important causes of thrombophilia. Consequently, in the workup of obese infertile patient, many aspects of health problems should be considered.
Body Weight ; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyperandrogenism ; Hyperinsulinism ; Incidence ; Infertility ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Obesity ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; Plasminogen Activators ; Testosterone ; Thrombophilia

PURPOSE:To evaluate the factors influencing the prognosis in avascular necrosis(AVN) of the femoral head by MR. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Radiographic and MRI findings of twenty-three patients(30 cases, aged 23-67 years) with AVN identified clinically and radiologically were evaluated. The radiography included follow up study for at least 6 months. The mean age of these patients was 43 years and M: F ratio was 20: 3. MR imaging was performed at 1. 5T unit using T1- and T2-weighted coronal and Tl-weighted sagittal and axial spin echo sequences. We categorized the changes of the femoral head on radiographic follow-ups to three grades of mild, moderate and severe. We also analyzed the changes of the signal intensity and sizes of the lesion at sagittal and coronal MR images. On MR imaging we classified the extent of AVN of the fernoral head to 2 grades according to the size of lesion. RESULTS:In the cases of mild changes in fernoral head on radiography, the mean age of the patient was 37 years and the extent of AVN was below 1/2 in eleven out of seventeen cases. In the cases of moderate changes, the mean age was 43 years and the extent was above 1/2 in five out of seven cases. In the cases of severe changes, the mean age was 60 years and the extent was above 1/2 in all 6 cases. With 95% confidence coefficient, comparisons in the age and necrosis extent revealed statistical significance in severe versus moderate changes and in severe versus mild changes. Comparisons in the change of signal intensity on T1 and T2 weighted images showed no statistical relationship between each other. CONCLUSION: We conclude that if patient is younger and has smaller extent of the AVN, bone destruction is slower that these factors may be helpful in predicting the prognosis of AVN. However, the modes of the changes of the signal intensity on T1- and T2- weighted images may not be useful in predicting the prognosis of AVN.
Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Necrosis* ; Prognosis ; Radiography

PURPOSE: To evaluate the sensitivity of MR imaging in determining tear sites and degrees in acute anterior cruciate ligament tear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR imagings were undertaken in 19 patients who had trauma on their knee joints. All imaging studies were performed within 2 weeks after trauma and compared with operative findings. The degrees of ligament tear were divided into complete and incomplete, and sites of tears were divided into superior middle and inferior portions. MR findings were compared with operative findings. RESULTS: There were 14 cases of complete ligament tear and 5 cases of partial ligament tear. We could diagnose correctly in all 14 cases with complete tear and in 3 of 5 cases with partial tear. The tear sites were correctly predicted in 10 of 14 cases with complete tear(71%) and 1 of 5 cases with par In complete tears, MR findings were transversely or obliquely coursed band-like high signal intensity within the ACL or abrupt Switch over to as indistinct signal intensity. In partial tears, the tear sites could not be evaluated mostly and the tear appeared as linear low signal intensity lesions in posterolateral bundles of AC/. CONCLUSIONS: MR revealed higher sensitivity in determining the degree and sites of ACL tear in complete tear as compared with partial tear.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

OBJECTIVE: This study was done to evaluate the risk factors and prevalence of symptom-giving pelvic girdle relaxation in pregnant women. METHODS: Three hundreds thirty-two postpartum women were asked to fill out a questionnaire within one week after their parturition. The diagnostic criteria of this lesion were adopted from the Norwegian Medical Association's and Larsen's criteria. The questionnaire were included age, parity, BMI(kg/cm2), weight gain during the pregnancy, history of symptom giving pelvic girdle relaxation in previous pregnancy, level of exercise and vocational status during and before the pregnancy and baby's birth weight. The answers were evaluated to determine the risk factors. The correlation was tested by student t-test and logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of symptom-giving pelvic girdle relaxation during pregnancy was 18.9%. The history of symptom-giving pelvic girdle relaxation in previous pregnancy, multiparity and the absence of regular exercise before and during pregnancy showed correlation with symptom-giving pelvic girdle relaxation in pregnancy (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that women who experienced symptom-giving pelvic girdle relaxation in previous pregnancy should be checked for this lesion before pregnancy. Regular exercise is required to lower the incidence and lessen the severity of this lesion in pregnancy.
Birth Weight ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Parity ; Parturition ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Prevalence* ; Surveys and Questionnaire ; Relaxation* ; Risk Factors* ; Weight Gain

PURPOSE: To determine whether the compression technique is a valuable additional method for differentiating between benign and malignant breast masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ultrasonographic findings of 95 benign and 53 malignant masses, all pathologically proven, were prospectively analyzed with regard to five diagnostic criteria: shape (regular/irregular), retrotumoral acoustic phenomena (posterior enhancement/posterior attenuation), internal echo pattern (homogeneous/inhomogeneous), compression effect on shape (distortion/no change), and compression effect on internal echo pattern (more homogeneous/no change). RESULTS: The number of cases of benign and malignant masses, respectively, was as follows: regular / irregular shape: 84/11, 9/44; posterior acoustic enhancement/posterior attenuation: 82/13, 16/37; homogeneous/inhomogeneous internal echo pattern: 78/17, 14/39; distortion/no change in shpae: 76/19, 5/48; and more homogeneous/ no change in internal echo pattern: 71/24, 3/50. For all diagnostic criteria for the differentiation of benign and malignant masses, the differences were statistically significant (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography is helpful for differentiating between benign and malignant breast masses. The compression technique is a valuable additional diagnostic method.
Acoustics ; Breast* ; Prospective Studies ; Ultrasonography*

OBJECTIVE: To report the prevalence of lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion and infertility. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies were analyzed by Diluted Russell's Viper Venom Test (DRVVT) and solid phase enzyme immunoassay, respectively. RESULTS: In 200 patients with infertility, there were 6 cases (3%) with positive lupus anticoagulants or anticardiolipin antibodies. Of these, 3 patients (1.5%) showed positive lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies, respectively. In 120 patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion, there were 13 cases (10.8%) of positive lupus anticoagulants or anticardiolipin antibodies. Of these, one patient (1%) showed lupus anticoagulants and 12 patients (10%) showed anticardiolipin antibodies. But in two groups, there was no cases with positive lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies. CONCLUSION: Lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies are definite cause of recurrent spontaneous abortion. There has been a speculation that they might be associated with infertility and repeated IVF failures. But it was found that the role of lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies in these cases are not clear.
Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin* ; Anticoagulants* ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Infertility* ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Russell's Viper ; Venoms

Prostatic adenocarcinoma is a common genitourinary malignancy which frequently is assiciated with bony metastasis at initial diagnosis. The detection of bony metastasis is important because it often alters the therapeutic strategy. The radionuclide one scintigraphy is known to be the most sensitive diagnostic method in detecting bony metastasis from prostatic adenocarcinoma. In the histologic grading of prostatic adenocarcinoma, the Gleason's grading system is the most widely employed one which is based on the degree of glandular differentiation and the growth patterns of tumor in relation to the prostatic stroma. The purpose of this study is to know the correlation of Gleason's grade and bone scintigraphic findings in prostatic carcinoma. We analyzed 99mTc-diphosphonate bone scintigraphies of 19 cases with prostatic adenocarcinoma confirmed by transurethral prostatic biopsy. Ten of the 19 cases showed asymmetrical multiple radioisotope uptake suggesting bony metastases and their Gleason's grade were 4 or 5 in seven cases. The remaining three cases were Gleason's grade 2 or 3. Another nine cases showed symmetrical radioisotope uptake with normal renal imaging suggesting no bony metastases and their Gleason's grade were 1,2 or 3 in seven cases. The remaining two cases of these nine cases were Gleason's grade 4 and 5. As the results, there was a correlation between the Gleason's grade and bone scintigraphic findings. The asymmetrical multiple skeletal uptake of radioisotope may suggest that the Gleason's grade is likely to be higher.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Methods ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radionuclide Imaging

BACKGROUND: Nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation is common in elderly and associated with an increased risk for thromboembolism. Left atrial spontaneous echo contrast(SEC) and thrombus. which are easily detected by transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease and atrial fibrillation, have been known as markers of thromboembolism. However, most of the previous studies on left atrial SEC and thrombus were performed in rheumatic mitral valve disease or various conditions including rheumatic mitral valve disease. Therefore this study was underaken in order to investigatd 1) the prevalence of left atrial SEC and thrombus, and 2) clinical and echocardiographic variables related to left atrial SEC and thrombus in nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation. METHODS: In patients with estabished atrial fibrillation over 7 days, we examined the clinical gistory and performed transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) and TEE simultaneously. Enlisted patients were those without rheumatic mitral valve disease, prosthetic valves, previous thromboembolism, and recent anticoagulant therapy. RESULTS: 1) Left atrial SEC was detected in 32(62.7%) of 51 patients and left atrial thrombus in 10(19.6%). All thrombi were located in the left atrial appendage. 2) In univariate analysis, SEC positive group showed higher prevalence of congestive heart failure(CHF)(56.3% vs 0%, p<0.001), lower ejection fraction(42.2+/-14.1% vs 50.8+/-9.7%, p<0.05), lower left atrial appendage blood flow velocity(peak positive flow velocity ; 18.7+/-11.1cm/sec vs 32+/-12.4cm/sec, p<0.01, and peak negative flow velocity ; 21.4+/-12.4cm/sec vs 31.9+/-12.8cm/sec, p<0.01) than SEC negative group. Multivariate analysis identifed CHF as an independent variable related to left atrial SEC(p=0.02, Odds ratio ; 2.38, 95% CI ; 1.18-4.82). 3) In univariate analysis. left atrial thrombus positive group showed higher prevalence of CHF(70% vs 26.8%, p<0.05), larger left atrial demension(34+/-3.4mm/m2 vs 30.6+/-4.6mm/m2, p<0.05) than thrombus negative group. Multivariate analysis identifed CHF as an independent variable related to left atrial thrombus(p=0.04, Odds ratio ; 4.30, 95% CI ; 1.11-16.68). 4) Left atrial thrombus is more frequent in SEC positive group than in SEC negative group(28.1% vs 5.3%), however, there was no statistical significance(p=0.07). CONCLUSION: 1) Left atrial SEC is common in nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation and significantly related to CHF. 2) Left atrial thrombus is frequently detected in SEC positive patients, however, it is more realted to CHF than left atrial SEC itself.
Aged ; Atrial Appendage ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Echocardiography ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Heart ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Thromboembolism ; Thrombosis*

BACKGROUND: Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure(ABP) monitoring has become increasingly popular for diagnosing and treating hypertension. Therefore the reference value of normotensive subjects was necessary for interpretation of hypertensive subjects. Several studies were reported on reference values in normotensive subjects. The purpose of this study was to determine 24-hour ABP in normotensive Korean adults stratified for sex and five age groups. This study also assessed ABP in relation to a family history of hypertension, smoking and body mass index(BMI). METHODS: ABP monitoring was performed in 200 healthy normotensive volunteers(ranged in age from 20 to 69 years, five decades, 20 men and 20 women per each decade), over 24 hours, taking measurement at 30-min intervals. The 24-hour interval was divided into day-time(6am-10pm) and night-time(100pm-6am) periods. Mean ABP and pressure loads(percentage of systolic readings>140mmHg, diastolic readings>90mmHg) were obtained. RESULTS: The mean ABP in 200 subjects was 113+/-8.6/72+/-6.9mmHg over 24 hours, 117+/-9.7/75+/-7.0mmHg during day-time, and 106+/-9.8/67+/-8.3mmHg at night-time, and pressure loadd averaged 5.1+/-7.4/7.9+/-8.9% over 24 hours. The +2 standard deviation(SD) as the upper limit of normal was 130/86mmHg over 24 hours in 200 subjects. The mean ABP and pressure load were 116+/-7.6/74+/-7.6mmHg and 6.4+/-8.3/10.1+/-10.2% in 100 subjects of men, and 110+/-8.3+/-70+/-6.6mmHg, 3.7+/-6.0/5.7+/-6.8% in women. Mean ABP and pressure load showed significant difference in relation to age group and sex, however, no significant difference in relation to a family history of hypertension or smoking. In relation to BMI group, diastolic blood pressure and diastolic pressure load were significantly different.
Adult* ; Blood Pressure* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Reference Values ; Smoke ; Smoking

Purpose: We evaluated the clinical manifestations of, and risk factors for, infectious keratitis in patients with ocular graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Methods: A total of 11 patients who developed infectious keratitis after a diagnosis of ocular GVHD between January 2015 and December 2020, and 36 who did not (the control group), were included in this retrospective study. We recorded sex, age, any underlying disease, any other organ affected by systemic GVHD, systemic immunosuppressant use, follow-up duration, clinical manifestations, the severity of ocular GVHD prior to infection, the size of the epithelial defect, the depth of infiltration, hypopyon status, and the results of microbiological tests. Systemic and ocular indices (including systemic GVHD status) were compared using the chi-squared test. Risk factors for infection were identified. Results: Of the corneal indices, the presence of corneal filaments, the extent of corneal neovascularization, and the number of corneal epithelial defects were significantly higher in the infected group (p = 0.023, p = 0.004, and p = 0.001, respectively). GVHD severity was also significantly higher in that group (p < 0.001). The presence of corneal filaments, corneal neovascularization, and corneal epithelial defects prior to infection correlated significantly with the risk of infection (p = 0.046, p = 0.010, and p = 0.003, respectively). Multivariate analysis identified corneal epithelial defects as a significant risk factor for infection (p = 0.029). Conclusions In patients with ocular GVHD, corneal epithelial defects, corneal neovascularization, and corneal filaments prior to infection were associated with the development of infection. In particular, corneal epithelial defects before infection was a significant risk factor for infection.