PURPOSE: Radiation proctitis and radiation cystitis are frequent and problematic late complications in patients treated with radiation for the uterine cervix cancer. Authors tried to find out the better patient's position in high dose rate intracavitary radiation to reduce the radiation dose of bladder and rectum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 13 patients, Foley catheters were inserted to patients' bladder and rectum and were ballooned with radioopaque dye. After insertion of a tandem and two ovoids, semi-orthogonal anteroposterior and lateral films were taken in both lithotomy and supine position. The rectal point and bladder point were defined according to the criteria recommended in the ICRU Report 38 with modification. Using these films, all patients' bladder and rectal dose were calculated in both positions (the radiation dose of A point was set to 400 cGy). And also, the distance of bladder and rectum from uterine cervical os was calculated in both positions. RESULTS: The average radiation dose of rectum was 240.7 cGy in lithotomy position and 278.3 cGy in supine position, and the average radiation dose of bladder was 303.5 cGy in lithotomy position and 255.8 cGy in supine position. After the paired t-test, the radiation dose of rectum in lithotomy position was marginally significantly lower than that in supine position, while the radiation dose of bladder in lithotomy position was significantly higher than that in supine position. On the other hand, the average distance between rectum and cervical os was 35.2 mm in lithotomy position and 32.3 mm in supine position. and the average distance between bladder and cervical os was 30.4 mm in lithotomy position and 34.0 mm in supine posi-tion. After the paired t-test, the distance between rectum and cervical os in lithotomy position was significantly longer than that in supine position, while the distance between bladder and cervical os in lithotomy position was significantly shorter than that in supine position. CONCLUSION: The radiation dose of bladder can be reduced in supine position and the radiation dose of rectum can be reduced in lithotomy position, so we can choose appropriate position in each patient.
Catheters ; Cervix Uteri* ; Cystitis ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Proctitis ; Rectum ; Supine Position ; Urinary Bladder

Proliferations of the endometrial glands form a continuum from focal glandular crowding through simple hyperplasia, complex hyperplasia and atypical hyperplasia to frank adenocarcinoma. But objective criteria to distinguish these proliferative endometrial lesions are not clear-cut and terminology is confusing. The p53 protein is a nuclear phosphoprotein that can regulate cell proliferation and suppress tumor growth. Mutation in the p53 gene have been reported in a variety of human tumors, and in selected malignancies overexpression of p53 has been associated with poor prognosis. In this study we examined a series of endometrial proliferative lesion, including hyperplasia, adenocarcinoma, and adenomyosis to determine whether or not p53 is overexpressed in these lesions. In the result, p53 immunoreactivity was observed in 3 of 17 (17.6%) simple hyperplasia, one of 6 (16.6%) complex hyperplasia, none of 3 (O%) atypical hyperplasia, 6 of 13 (46.1%) adenocarcinoma and none of 10 (O%) adenomyosis. In conclusion, p53 mutation seems to play a role in oncogenesis of endometrial adenocarcinoma in early phase but there was no significant relationship between p53 overexpression and histologic grade of adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenomyosis ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Proliferation ; Crowding ; Endometrial Hyperplasia* ; Female ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Prognosis

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

An important aspect of plastic surgery is skin flap survival. Among the prostaglandins, PGE4 is used clinically to improve peripheral circulatory disturbances due to its action of augmenting blood flow by vascular smooth muscle relaxation and its strong inhibitory action of platelet aggregation. Clinically, many investigators found that the effect of PGE4 was prolonged for a long period even after short-term application. So a new hypothesis emerges that the prolonged effect of PGE4 may be due to neovascularization and not due to vasodilatation alone. This study was designed to clarify the mechanism of the prolonged effect of topical PGE4 with regard to angiogenesis. A total of 9 male hairless mice were treated with a topical application of PGE4 onitment (PGE4 powder mixed in hydrogen base) on the experimental side and only a hydrogen base on the contralateral control side of the back skin, respectively, for 7 days, once a day. Then they were divided into 3 groups. In group 1, specimens were obtained on the 7th day post-treatment using 3 mm size punch biopsy from both sides. In group 2, specimens were obtained on post-treatment 14th day. In group 3, specimens were obtained on post-treatment 28th day. The number of blood vessels were compared between the experimental side and control side with respect to neovascularization after PGE4 application using an image-analysis program under hemtoxyline-eosin stain. Treatment on the experimental side did not affect its contralateral mate, since there was no evidence of a systemic effect. From our experimental data, we could conclude that PGE4 may induce angiogenesis by topical application without systemic effect.
Animals ; Biopsy ; Blood Vessels ; Humans ; Hydrogen ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless* ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Platelet Aggregation ; Prostaglandins ; Relaxation ; Research Personnel ; Skin ; Surgery, Plastic ; Vasodilation

No abstract available.
Fibrin Tissue Adhesive* ; Fistula* ; Tissue Adhesives*

BACKGROUND: Woods are capable of causing allergic or irritant contact dermatitis which typically occurs on exposed areas. Because Bolivian rosewood exclusively contains the strong sensitizer R-3,4-dimethoxydalbergione, an increasing number of cases of irritant and allergic contact dermatitis has been reported. CASE REPORT: A 49-year-old, male, wood worker, who handled a variety of woods, developed allergic contact dermatitis. A patch test confirmed a positive reaction to one of the exotic woods, Bolivian rosewood. Allergens found in Bolivian rosewood caused this patient's dermatitis, which cleared when he avoided this wood. CONCLUSION: Exotic woods such as Bolivian rosewood can induce occupational contact dermatitis. Measures to lower the incidence of work-related dermatitis are needed in the workplace. Especially, when cutting or sanding woods, workers should wear proper personal protection.
Allergens ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Erythema Multiforme* ; Erythema* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patch Tests ; Silicon Dioxide ; Wood

BACKGROUND: Pamidronate is a potent inhibitor of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Recently, the drug has been known to relieve bone pain. We hypothesized that direct epidural administration of pamidronate could have various advantages over oral administration with respect to dosage, side effects, and efficacy. Therefore, we evaluated the neuronal safety of epidurally-administered pamidronate. METHODS: Twenty-seven rats weighing 250-350 g were equally divided into 3 groups. Each group received an epidural administration with either 0.3 ml (3.75 mg) of pamidronate (group P), 0.3 ml of 40% alcohol (group A), or 0.3 ml of normal saline (group N). A Pinch-toe test, motor function evaluation, and histopathologic examination of the spinal cord to detect conditions such as chromatolysis, meningeal inflammation, and neuritis, were performed on the 2nd, 7th, and 21st day following administration of each drug. RESULTS: All rats in group A showed an abnormal response to the pinch-toe test and decreased motor function during the entire evaluation period. Abnormal histopathologic findings, including neuritis and meningeal inflammation were observed only in group A rats. Rats in group P, with the exception of 1, and group N showed no significant sensory/motor dysfunction over a 3-week observation period. No histopathologic changes were observed in groups P and N. CONCLUSIONS: Direct epidural injection of pamidronate (about 12.5 mg/kg) showed no neurotoxic evidence in terms of sensory/motor function evaluation and histopathologic examination.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Bone Resorption ; Diphosphonates ; Inflammation ; Injections, Epidural ; Neuritis ; Neurons ; Rats ; Spinal Cord

No abstract available.
Animals ; Rats* ; Reperfusion*

No abstract available.
Cisplatin* ; Humans ; Nausea* ; Ondansetron* ; Vomiting*

BACKGROUND: The multifactorial hypothesis is proposed as a working hypothesis which encompass both the genetic and environmental factors known to participate in the etiology of congenital heart anomalies. So, at the moment, it is believed that avoidance of suspected environmental factors in early pregenancy is most certain preventive measure of congenital heart anomalies. This study has been undertaken in order to find the possible environmental risk factors for congenital heart anomalies in Korea. METHOD: A total of 320 mothers of infants with congenital heart anomalies diagnosed at Seoul National University Hospital were included in this study as case group. And 413 mothers of healthy infants, who visited well baby clinic at the hospital during the same period of 2 years from 1987, comprised the control group. Data related to environmental risk factors including drug use during the first trimester of pregnancy, any other confounders were collected by direct interview using questionmaires. RESULT: There were positive associations for lower educational level of mother, indoor smoking habit of father, number of pregnancy, and of experience of previous abortion of mother, and multiple(or twin) birth. Relative risk estimates for the first trimester exposure to anti-emetics and herb medicine were 2.1(p<0.006) and 1.4(p<0.044), respectively. Data showed a positive association between anti-inflammatory drug exposure and congenital anomalies of pulmonary valve(OR=22.7, p<0.01), and between anti-histamine exposure and coarctation of aorata(OR=12.7, p<0.017). CONCLUSION: Environmental factors such as smoking habit of father, certain drugs used in early pregnancy, plays a role in the etiology of congenital heart anomlaies. Further studies, designed to focus on specific drug and to differentiate the effect of the suspected drug and to differentiate the effect of the suspected drug form that of the underlying conditions prompting its use, should be called upon.
Abortion, Induced ; Antiemetics ; Case-Control Studies* ; Fathers ; Female ; Heart* ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea* ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Risk Factors ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking