Postpartum hemorrhage is an important cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. Especially uterine atony is the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage. Conventional method to control postpartum uterine atonic bleeding is based on the use of oxytocin and ergot preparations. Prostaglandin F2alpha analogue such as carboprost can be used to promote contraction when these agents fail to produce uterine contraction. Prostaglandin E1 analogue, misoprostol has uterotonic effect by oral or vaginal administration. They are used to induce labor and first or mid trimester abortion. In postpartum uterine atonic bleeding, misoprostols cannot be used via oral or vaginal route. Recently we have experienced that postpartum uterine atonic bleedings unresponsive to conventional methods were controlled by rectal misoprostols. So we report these cases with a brief review of literatures.
Administration, Intravaginal ; Alprostadil ; Carboprost ; Dinoprost ; Hemorrhage* ; Maternal Mortality ; Misoprostol* ; Oxytocin ; Postpartum Hemorrhage ; Postpartum Period* ; Uterine Contraction ; Uterine Inertia

OBJECTIVES: Although phthalates like dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) are commonly used as plasticizers and their metabolites are especially suspected of reproductive toxicity, little is known about occupational exposure to those phthalates. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of measuring the metabolite concentrations of DBP and DEHP in serum and urine samples as an indicator of occupational exposure to those phthalates. METHODS: Phthalate metabolites were analyzed by using column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). RESULTS: We detected phthalate metabolites in serum and urine matrices at approximately 10-fold lower than the limit of detection of those metabolites in the same matrix by LC-MS/MS without column switching, which was sufficient to evaluate concentrations of phthalate metabolites for industrial workers and the general population. CONCLUSION: The accuracy and precision of the analytical method indicate that urinary metabolite determination can be a more acceptable biomarker for studying phthalate exposure and adverse health outcomes.
Biomarkers ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dibutyl Phthalate ; Diethylhexyl Phthalate ; Humans ; Limit of Detection ; Occupational Exposure ; Phthalic Acids ; Plasticizers ; Plastics ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Phase-partitioning with Triton X-114 (TX114) was applied to the TSP antigen, which may be preferentially associated with the cell wall of M. tuberculosis. The hydrophilic protein components of the TSP antigen were successfully separated from integral hydrophobic macromolecules. To further characterize and examine the cellular immune response of the aqueous fraction of the TSP antigen (TSPa), the in vitro properties of the antigen were measured by lymphoproliferation; surface expression of IL-2 Ra on T lymphocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry; and the cytokine mRNA expression pattern was determined by RT-PCR. Significant lymphoproliferative responses to the TSPa antigen were observed in healthy tuberculin reactive donors after a 5 day in vitro stimulation. TSPa treatment of PBMCs from healthy tuberculin positive subjects for 5 days resulted in progressive augmentation of IFN-r, II 2, and IL-2Ra mRNA expression, as measured by RT-PCR, but considerably reduced IL-4 mRNA expression. In addition, the TSPa antigen stimulated more IL-12 p40 mRNA production than did the PPD antigen, and graduaBy suppressed IL- 10 mRNA expression. Moreover, the CD3' T cells of tuberculin positive subjects displayed a profound increase in their expression of the II 2Ru protein (39.0%) in response to the TSPa antigen. Proliferation was correlated with IL-2 and IL-2Ra mRNAs, but not correlated with distinct IFN-r or IL-12 p40 mRNA production. These findings strongly suggest that the TSPa antigen preferentially evokes the generation of a Thl-like immune response in healthy tuberculin reactors.
Cell Wall ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans* ; Immunity, Cellular* ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Neptune ; RNA, Messenger ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tissue Donors ; Tuberculin ; Tuberculosis

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine whether abnormal triple marker in the second trimester may be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: Between November 1996 and April 1998, we evaluated 1,158 pregnant women undergoing second trimester triple marker screening tests who delivered at our hospital. The pregnancy outcomes of 48 women with false positive screens were compared with 1,158 screen negative controls. The pregnancy outcomes were obtained from hospital delivery records. RESULTS: Women with abnormal triple marker showed increased risks for low birth weight(p<0.01). But there was no significant differences between study and control groups with respect to preterm labor, pregnancy induced hypertension, oligohydroamnios, premature rupture of membrane, placenta previa, abruptio placenta, fetal death in utero. CONCLUSION: Abnormal triple marker in the second trimester was associated with low birth weight.
Female ; Fetal Death ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Mass Screening* ; Membranes ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Parturition ; Placenta ; Placenta Previa ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy, High-Risk* ; Pregnant Women ; Rupture

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the posttreatment response to chloroquine among 81 patients with vivax malaria who were residents in Northern area of Kyunggi province in 1996. The result of chloroquine therapy was followed 28 days after treatment. Material and METHODS: Diagnosis of malaria was made by microscopic examination of Giemsa stain of peripheral blood. Parasitemia levels from each patient were counted before treatment, 3, 14 and 28 days after treatment. RESULTS: Eight-one patients successfully completed the therapy. All patients were army soldiers, who were residing in northern area of Kyunggi province. The 14-day cumulative incidence of therapeutic failure for P. vivax was 2.5% (n=2) and 0% (n=81) at 28th day. One patient had a recurrence eight months after completion of antimalarial treatment. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that recent resurgent malaria in Korea need more careful therapy. Antimalarial treatment should not be completed without microscopic confirmation.
Azure Stains ; Chloroquine ; Diagnosis ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Malaria ; Malaria, Vivax* ; Military Personnel ; Parasitemia ; Plasmodium vivax ; Primaquine ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: A peripheral blood smear has been the gold standard method for the diagnosis of malaria infection. Recently, many other methods have been introduced, although having inferior sensitivity and specificity to peripheral blood smears. We evaluated Neodin malaria PCR kit and its applicability in clinical settings. METHODS: Samples from seventy patients who visited Korea University hospital were used for evaluation. DNA from EDTA blood was tested in nested multiplex PCR and 470 bp for Plasmodium vivax or 340 bp for Plasmodium falciparum was confirmed after electrophoresis. The detection limit was determined by dilution of malaria positive blood with normal blood. RESULTS: Thirty-five cases of P. vivax and 10 cases of P. falciparum were noted. Except for a case of falciparum malaria, all positive cases were consistent with the peripheral blood smear results. Detection limit was 3.6 parasite/microL. CONCLUSIONS: Neodin malaria nested multiplex PCR has high sensitivity and the ability for species discrimination and may be available in the diagnosis of malaria infection.
Diagnosis* ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; DNA ; Edetic Acid ; Electrophoresis ; Humans ; Korea ; Limit of Detection ; Malaria* ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Plasmodium falciparum ; Plasmodium vivax ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is called ‘smoker’s disease’ because it is strongly associated with smoking and most cases occur in smokers. However, it can also occur in never smokers. We investigated the clinical features of never smokers with SCLC and compared their treatment outcomes with those of smokers with SCLC. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of patients who had proven SCLC and had received chemotherapy at a single cancer center between July 2002 and April 2021. Results: Of 1,643 patients, 1,416 (86.2%) were enrolled in this study. A total of 162 (11.4%) and 1,254 (88.6%) patients were never smokers and smokers, respectively. There were more female never smokers than smokers (n=130; 80.2% vs. 79, 6.3%, p=0.000), and the incidence of ischemic heart disease was lower among never smokers than among smokers (4/1,416, [2.5%] vs. 83/1,416 [6.6%], p=0.036). Never smokers showed less symptoms at diagnosis than smokers (80.9% vs. 87.2%, p=0.037); however, they showed more toxicity after first-line treatment (61.7% vs. 47.8%, p=0.001). The objective response rate (ORR) was significantly higher in never smokers (74.1% vs. 59.6%, p=0.000). In the multivariate analysis, never smoking and second-line treatment were associated with a better ORR. However, progression-free survival and overall survival were not significantly different between never smokers and smokers. Conclusion In conclusion, never smokers accounted for 11.4% of patients with SCLC. They had distinguishing clinical characteristics and showed better chemotherapeutic responses than smokers.

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is called ‘smoker’s disease’ because it is strongly associated with smoking and most cases occur in smokers. However, it can also occur in never smokers. We investigated the clinical features of never smokers with SCLC and compared their treatment outcomes with those of smokers with SCLC. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of patients who had proven SCLC and had received chemotherapy at a single cancer center between July 2002 and April 2021. Results: Of 1,643 patients, 1,416 (86.2%) were enrolled in this study. A total of 162 (11.4%) and 1,254 (88.6%) patients were never smokers and smokers, respectively. There were more female never smokers than smokers (n=130; 80.2% vs. 79, 6.3%, p=0.000), and the incidence of ischemic heart disease was lower among never smokers than among smokers (4/1,416, [2.5%] vs. 83/1,416 [6.6%], p=0.036). Never smokers showed less symptoms at diagnosis than smokers (80.9% vs. 87.2%, p=0.037); however, they showed more toxicity after first-line treatment (61.7% vs. 47.8%, p=0.001). The objective response rate (ORR) was significantly higher in never smokers (74.1% vs. 59.6%, p=0.000). In the multivariate analysis, never smoking and second-line treatment were associated with a better ORR. However, progression-free survival and overall survival were not significantly different between never smokers and smokers. Conclusion In conclusion, never smokers accounted for 11.4% of patients with SCLC. They had distinguishing clinical characteristics and showed better chemotherapeutic responses than smokers.

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is called ‘smoker’s disease’ because it is strongly associated with smoking and most cases occur in smokers. However, it can also occur in never smokers. We investigated the clinical features of never smokers with SCLC and compared their treatment outcomes with those of smokers with SCLC. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of patients who had proven SCLC and had received chemotherapy at a single cancer center between July 2002 and April 2021. Results: Of 1,643 patients, 1,416 (86.2%) were enrolled in this study. A total of 162 (11.4%) and 1,254 (88.6%) patients were never smokers and smokers, respectively. There were more female never smokers than smokers (n=130; 80.2% vs. 79, 6.3%, p=0.000), and the incidence of ischemic heart disease was lower among never smokers than among smokers (4/1,416, [2.5%] vs. 83/1,416 [6.6%], p=0.036). Never smokers showed less symptoms at diagnosis than smokers (80.9% vs. 87.2%, p=0.037); however, they showed more toxicity after first-line treatment (61.7% vs. 47.8%, p=0.001). The objective response rate (ORR) was significantly higher in never smokers (74.1% vs. 59.6%, p=0.000). In the multivariate analysis, never smoking and second-line treatment were associated with a better ORR. However, progression-free survival and overall survival were not significantly different between never smokers and smokers. Conclusion In conclusion, never smokers accounted for 11.4% of patients with SCLC. They had distinguishing clinical characteristics and showed better chemotherapeutic responses than smokers.

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is called ‘smoker’s disease’ because it is strongly associated with smoking and most cases occur in smokers. However, it can also occur in never smokers. We investigated the clinical features of never smokers with SCLC and compared their treatment outcomes with those of smokers with SCLC. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of patients who had proven SCLC and had received chemotherapy at a single cancer center between July 2002 and April 2021. Results: Of 1,643 patients, 1,416 (86.2%) were enrolled in this study. A total of 162 (11.4%) and 1,254 (88.6%) patients were never smokers and smokers, respectively. There were more female never smokers than smokers (n=130; 80.2% vs. 79, 6.3%, p=0.000), and the incidence of ischemic heart disease was lower among never smokers than among smokers (4/1,416, [2.5%] vs. 83/1,416 [6.6%], p=0.036). Never smokers showed less symptoms at diagnosis than smokers (80.9% vs. 87.2%, p=0.037); however, they showed more toxicity after first-line treatment (61.7% vs. 47.8%, p=0.001). The objective response rate (ORR) was significantly higher in never smokers (74.1% vs. 59.6%, p=0.000). In the multivariate analysis, never smoking and second-line treatment were associated with a better ORR. However, progression-free survival and overall survival were not significantly different between never smokers and smokers. Conclusion In conclusion, never smokers accounted for 11.4% of patients with SCLC. They had distinguishing clinical characteristics and showed better chemotherapeutic responses than smokers.