OBJECTIVE: This study investigated changes of Biochemical Markers of Bone turnover in Pre-, Peri-and Postmenopausal Women METHOD: The levels of Urinary deoxypyridinoline(Dpd), serum total alkaline phosphatase(TALP), osteocalcin(OC), serum calcium(Ca++) and phosphorus(P) were determined. Bone mineral density(BMD) were also measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) RESULTS: There were negative correlation between Biochemical markers of bone turnover and BMD, Biochemical markers of bone turnover in osteoporosis group were significantly higher than normal groups. Biochemical marker of bone turnover except serum calcium increased after menopause and remains elevated in late postmenopausal and elderly women. An increased bone turnover rate to sustained serum calcium in constant level is related to a high rate of bone loss in postmenopausal women and to a decreased bone mass in elderly women. CONCLUSION: Bone turnover increased not only at the time of menopause but also in the elderly women. This subsequent abnormalities of bone resorption and formation in the elderly women suggest their potential role in osteoporosis.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Aged ; Biomarkers* ; Bone Resorption ; Calcium ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; Osteoporosis

OBJECTIVE: Hysterectomy is one of the most common gynecological operations. The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of suturing methods of vaginal cuff between laparoscopic and vaginal approach. METHODS: One hundred and sixty one cases of laparoscopic hysterectomy were devided into two groups. In group A(n=67), vaginal cuff was sutured by laparoscopic suture technique and in group B(n=94), vaginal cuff was repaired by vaginal approach. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in uterine weight, hospital stay, pre-and postoperative hemoglobin level and complications including febrile morbidity in two groups. Operation time was significantly shorter in group B(p=0.05). CONCLUSION: Transvaginal repair of vaginal cuff showed shorter duration of operation time than laparoscopic suture technique in total laparoscopichy sterectomy.
Hysterectomy* ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Suture Techniques

Hypothalamic hamartomas are often associated with early onset gelastic seizures, precocious puberty, behavioral problem and suboptimal response to antiepiletptic drugs. Until now, four surgical options have been reported to reduce seizure by >50%. Surgical excision have good seizure outcome but postoperative complications were not infrequent, whether by pterional or transcallosal interforniceal approach. Radiosurgery is noninvasive alternative to resective surgery but the effect usually does not appear until several months later. Radiofrequency ablation is less invasive than surgical resection and its effect is immediate, but lacks long term follow-up data. It also requires three dimensional analysis of the lesion to enhance effi cacy and safety. As hypothalamic hamartoma is intrinsically epileptogenic and epileptogenic discharges spread from the lesion, blocking the seizure propagation through endoscopic disconnection is regarded as an effective and safer option. Surgical choice for a particular patient should take into account the hamartoma’s size, location, surgeon’s preferences, possible complication as well as the effect and risk of the various surgical methods. In the present review, open surgery, endoscopic disconnection, radiosurgery and radiofrequency ablation are discussed.

No abstract available.
Humans ; Keratoderma, Palmoplantar ; Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris ; Pityriasis ; Siblings

No abstract available.
Arteries* ; Echocardiography ; Fetus* ; Heart ; Humans* ; Mitral Valve* ; Tricuspid Valve*

Human body contains diverse microbes. Different microbes are identified at different organs. Urine was thought as sterile, but according to progression in important technologies like 16S rRNA gene sequencing and expanded quantitative urine culture, it is known that diverse microbes exist in genitourinary tract. Microbiome contains the microbes and surrounding microenvironments. In addition to urologic difficulties like interstitial cystitis or chronic prostatitis, malignancies are thought to be related to microbiomes. In this review, we summarized several studies in urologic malignancies, especially prostate cancer and kidney cancer.

Human body contains diverse microbes. Different microbes are identified at different organs. Urine was thought as sterile, but according to progression in important technologies like 16S rRNA gene sequencing and expanded quantitative urine culture, it is known that diverse microbes exist in genitourinary tract. Microbiome contains the microbes and surrounding microenvironments. In addition to urologic difficulties like interstitial cystitis or chronic prostatitis, malignancies are thought to be related to microbiomes. In this review, we summarized several studies in urologic malignancies, especially prostate cancer and kidney cancer.

PURPOSE:Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, and stomach is the major site of ghrelin secretion. The purpose of this study is to compare the serum ghrelin concentrations between patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and normal adults. We studied also whether serum ghrelin levels in the patients with type 2 DM are correlated with body mass index (BMI), serum insulin, lipid profiles, and creatinine levels. METHODS:Forty patients with type 2 DM and forty normal adults were included in this study. We measured heights and weights of the subjects and calculated their BMIs. Blood samples were obtained to measure the ghrelin concentration and their sera were stored at -20degreeC until used. In all subjects, serum ghrelin levels were measured using the commercially available Ghrelin(human) EIA kit. RESULTS:No differences of mean values were detected between the control group and the type 2 diabetic group for age, body weight, BMI, and the levels of serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, and creatinine. But ghrelin level of the type 2 diabetic group (71.1+/-30.5 ng/L) was significantly lower than the control group (139.7+/-36.9 ng/L). In the control group, the ghrelin level showed positive correlation with HDL cholesterol (Pearson's correlation coefficient=0.37, P<0.05). In the diabetic group, the ghrelin level showed weakly positive correlation with insulin concentration. However, there was no significant relationship between serum ghrelin and various parameters in the diabetic patients group. CONCLUSION: In this study, ghrelin concentration in type 2 diabetic patients was lower than that in the control group. In the control group, serum ghrelin concentrations were positively correlated with HDL cholesterol. In the type 2 diabetic group, there was no significant correlation between insulin and ghrelin concentrations.
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Creatinine ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Ghrelin* ; Humans ; Insulin ; Receptors, Ghrelin ; Stomach ; Triglycerides ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: To evaluate the significance of serum SCC for the monitoring of treatment response and the early detection of distant metastasis during radiotherapy (RT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 13 patients with histologically proven primary squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix, serum SCC values were checked in pre-RT point, weekly during RT, and in post-RT point. RESULTS: In 4 of 13 cases, metastasis appeared at the end of external RT, so that intracavitary radiation couldn't be performed. Of these 4 cases, 3 with elevated pre-RT SCC level, who resulted in lung metastasis on chest PA at the end of external RT showed decreased post-RT SCC value despite of metastasis. Of all 10 cases with elevated pre-RT SCC value (including 3 with metastasis at the end of external RT), SCC value was higher than pre-RT value in 7 at 9 Gy and the difference was statistically significant. At 18 Gy, SCC was higher in 4 and lower in 6 than pre-RT value. After 18 Gy, SCC value decreased continuously to the end of RT in all 10 cases. CONCLUSION: During RT, SCC value increased initially at 9 Gy. To 18 Gy, SCC value decreased to the nearly same with pre-RT value. After 18 Gy, to the end of RT, SCC value decreased continuously and normalized in completely responded cases. In cases with appearance of lung metastasis, SCC value also decreased with the disappearance of main mass of uterine cervix despite of metastasis.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiotherapy* ; Thorax ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Rapid identification of Mycobacterium spp. isolated from patients is important with increased isolation of mycobacteria other than tubercle bacilli (MOTT). DNA-DNA hybridization with streptavidin-peroxidase and tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) color reaction method was recognized as a useful tool for identification of various species of mycobacteria. In this study, optimum condition of the test was determined. The optimal concentrations of tetramethylbenzidine dihydrochloride and hydrogen peroxide for streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase were 0.3-0.6 ug/ ml and 0.16 mM, respectively. The TMB stock solution was stable when prepared in methanol and the dilution of TBM stock solution in 10 mM sodium citrate-10 mM EDTA solution (pH 5.0) gave highest peroxidase-TMB activity. The suitable composition of hybridization solution consisted of 2 x SSC, 10% dextran sulfate, 50 ug/ml salmon DNA, 5 x Denhardt's solution, and 50% formamide. The 5-minute heating at 100C of test DNA prior to photobiotin labeling significantly increased the reaction. In conclusion, DNA-DNA hybridization method with streptavidin-peroxidase and TMB color reaction method may be useful for rapid identification of Mycobacterium spp. isolated from patients.
Dextran Sulfate ; DNA ; Edetic Acid ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Methanol ; Mycobacterium* ; Peroxidase ; Salmon ; Sodium