The foreign bodies in vagina cause intense inflammation. Genital complaints in patients could indicate the presence of a vaginal foreign object. Vaginal bleeding and blood-stained, foul-smelling discharge are considered to be the main clinical manifestations of vaginal foreign bodies, and toilet tissue reported as the most commonly found foreign body. The insertion of foreign bodies into the vagina is not uncommon but presentation as lower abdominal pain in an gynaecological clinic is rare. The causes of insertion are sexual stimulation, sexual abuse, accident of post-surgery and most cases find a solution after vaginal speculum examination. We describe a case of foreign body in the vagina of a patient presenting with chronic lower abdominal pain but undetectable and unrecognized in general examination.
Abdominal Pain ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Sex Offenses ; Surgical Instruments ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Vagina ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the relationship between body composition, metabolic parameters, and lumbar and femur bone mineral density (BMD) in pre-and post-menopausal women. METHODS: Of 394 females who participated in a medical check-up program, anthropometric measurements and fasting glucose levels and lipid profiles were measured. Body composition analysis was performed using the bioimpedence method and the BMD of the lumbar spine, femur neck, trochanter, ward's triangle, and total were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: The mean age was 49.5 +/- 9.8 years, and among the subjects, 203 (51.5%) were pre-menopausal and 191 (48.5%) were post- menopausal women. Skeletal muscle mass, fat- free mass, lean body mass, and basal metabolic rate had a positive correlation with the lumbar and femur spine BMD, even after adjustment for age and weight in pre-menopausal women. The abdominal fat ratio, fat mass, waist circumference, percent fat, and total cholesterol had a negative correlation with the lumbar and femur spine BMD, even after adjustment for age and weight in pre-menopausal women. The lean body mass in the legs and trunk, skeletal muscle mass, and fat free mass had a positive correlation with the BMD of the lumbar spine and femur neck, unlike the lean body mass of the arms did not, after adjustment for age and weight in post-menopausal women. CONCLUSION: In pre- and post-menopausal Korean women, body composition, lean body mass, fat -free mass, and skeletal muscle mass were positive correlates, and fat mass and percent fat were negative correlates with the lumbar spine and femur BMD.
Abdominal Fat ; Arm ; Basal Metabolism ; Body Composition ; Bone Density ; Cholesterol ; Fasting ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Glucose ; Humans ; Leg ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Spine ; Waist Circumference

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to prove the relationship between serum leptin level and bone mineral density of lumbar spine, femur neck and bone markers in postmenopausal Korean women. METHODS: We measured serum leptin, serum osteocalcin, urine deoxypyridinoline levels and bone mineral density of lumbar spine, femur neck in 88 premenopausal and 118 postmenopausal women who visited St. Vincent Hospital of Catholic University of Korea from March 1st, 2007 to December 31th, 2007. RESULTS: Statistically significant correlation was shown between serum leptin level and body mass index (BMI) in both premenopausal (r= 0.343, P<0.0001) and postmenopausal women (r=0.360, P<0.0001). And no significant correlation was observed between serum leptin level and bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine and femur neck in premenopausal women (r=0.013, P=0.107 and r=0.004, P=0.425, respectively), but in postmenopausal women, there was a positive correlation between serum leptin and lumbar spinal BMD (r=0.085, P=0.02). But after the adjustment with age and BMI, the serum leptin and BMD of lumbar spine did not showed a significantly correlation in the same group (r=0.088, P=0.939). Also, no significant correlations were observed between serum leptin level and serum osteocalcin and urine deoxypyridinoline in premenopausal (r=0.004, P=0.566 and r=0.002, P=0.707, respectively) and postmenopausal women (r=0.026, P=0.096 and r=0.000, P=0.933, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, there is no significant correlation between serum leptin level and bone mineral density and bone markers in premenopausal and postmenopausal Korean women. Our own data would suggest that leptin has both negative and positive effects in bone mass regulation. Furthermore, larger clinical studies are necessary to clarify leptin's role to assess the contribution of the central and peripheral role of leptin in the overall maintenance of bone turnover.
Amino Acids ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Korea ; Leptin ; Osteocalcin ; Postmenopause ; Spine

OBJECTIVE: Elective surgical approaches and trauma cause changes in the production of different cytokines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of laparoscopic surgery on the immune system of patients with gynecologic diseases. METHODS: We recruited the open surgery group (n=20) and laparoscopic surgery group (n=33). In a prospective study we examined the C-reactive protein (CRP) level, the production of the cytokines Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and TNF-alpha concentrations by ELISA. In addition the fibrinogen, transferrin, albumin, hemoglobin and hematocrit were measured. Statistical analysis was made by Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: There were significant statistical differences in the CRP, IL-6 and IL-8 between the open surgery group and laparoscopic surgery group after surgery. The CRP and IL-8 showed a more distinct increase in open surgery group 24 hours after surgery, the differences between the two surgical approaches were significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Elective surgical approaches cause changes in the immune system, which can be evaluated by the reaction of cytokines. Laparoscopic surgery cause less activation of the CRP and IL-8 than open surgery.
C-Reactive Protein ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; Genital Diseases, Female* ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Immune System* ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-1beta ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Laparoscopy* ; Prospective Studies ; Transferrin ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of serum VEGF and its relationship with the clinical parameters and the tumor markers in ovarian diseases. METHODS: We measured the serum VEGF concentrations by ELISA in 76 patients with benign ovarian disease, as well as 9 normal volunteers, 4 patients with ovarian borderline malignancy and 53 patients with ovarian cancer. RESULTS: There is a significant statistical difference between the serum VEGF levels in patients with benign ovarian disease (157.7+/-197.8 pg/ml) and ovarian cancer (344.7+/-372.2 pg/ml) (p<0.005). CONCLUSION: Serum VEGF may help in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant ovarian disease. We suggest that serum VEGF may be useful as a diagnostic tool in ovarian disease.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Ovarian Diseases* ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to review 4 years' experience of peritoneal inclusion cysts at Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital. METHODS: A retrospective study of 50 cases of peritoneal inclusion cyst between April 1, 1999 and June 30, 2003 was carried out and then clinical feature, preoperative diagnostic findings, operative findings and recurrence were compared with previous reports. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 40.2 years old and most of them were premenopausal. The majority (94%) of patients had history of laparotomy and most (70.2%) of them had history of total hysterectomy. The values of tumor makers such as CA125 and CA19-9 were normal in most of the patients. The peritoneal inclusion cysts usually generate on the left side of the pelvic cavity, size of them were often (59.6%) 5 to 10 cm and they usually (65.4%) have septum in ultrasonographic findings. They probably had pelvic adhesion or ovarian cyst with them in operative findings. Most of the recurrence occurred after only adhesiolysis was done. CONCLUSION: Because peritoneal inclusion cyst is benign and uncommon disease, its preoperative diagnosis rate was low. In our experience of 50 cases of peritoneal inclusion cyst, most of the patients have history of laparotomy and were premenopausal. When the ultrasonographic findings of cyst are 5 cm to 10 cm in size and have septum, they are likely to be peritoneal inclusion cyst. Their recurrence might be more common when adhesiolysis only was performed.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Laparotomy ; Ovarian Cysts ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography*

Radiofrequency myolysis is newly developed method for management of myoma. Patients do not need to under general anesthesia neither admission. It decrease the size of myoma with preserve uterus. But the complication and side effect of radiofrequency myolysis had not been published. We have experienced two cases of increased size of the myoma with secondary degeneration after myolysis, so report that with a brief review of literatures.
Anesthesia, General ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Myoma ; Uterus

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between Fas gene polymorphisms, and bone mineral density (BMD). METHODS: Restriction fragment length polymorphisms at the Fas A670G, G1377A gene site, and BMD at the lumbar spine and proximal femur were analyzed in 229 postmenopausal Korean women (81 normal, 111 osteopenic and 37 osteoporotic patients). BMDs were measured by DEXA. RESULTS: The distribution of A670G and G1377C polymorphisms in all postmenopausal women was as follows: AA 18.3%, AG 46.3%, GG 35.4%; GG 38.0%, GA 39.7%, AA 22.3%, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounding factors such as age, BMI, and menopause duration, A670G polymorphism was significantly associated with BMD at the lumbar spine, the femur neck and trochanter in osteopenic and osteoporotic patients, and G1377A polymorphism was significantly associated with BMD at lumbar spine and the femur neck in osteopenic patients. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that Fas gene polymorphisms may be an important contributor to the variation of BMD among postmenopausal Korean women.
Bone Density* ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Menopause ; Osteoporosis ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Spine

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of magnesium sulfate on Caspase-3 and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) under presence or absence of Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha). METHODS: HUVECs were isolated from normal term umbilical cords and cultured in several physiolo gically relevant concentrations of magnesium sulfate with or without exposure of TNF-alpha. The concentrations of VEGF and caspase-3 were estimated by colorimetric assay and ELISA assay, respectively. RESULTS: The concentration of VEGF in HUVECs significantly increased in the presence of TNF-alpha compared with in the absence of TNF-alpha. However, the concentration of VEGF did not show significant difference in several concentrations of magnesium sulfate concentrations with addition of TNF-alpha and it showed the lowest concentration under 4 mM and 8 mM of magnesium sulfate concentration without addition of TNF-alpha. The concentration of caspase-3 in HUVECs did not show statistically significant difference with the addition of TNF-alpha and magnesium sulfate. CONCLUSION: TNF-alpha induce HUVECs to stimulate the VEGF, and magnesium sulfate might not have the effects on the expression of VEGF with addition of TNF-alpha However, the concentration for treatment of magnesium sulfate inhibits the expression of VEGF without addition of TNF-alpha. Magnesium sulfate might not have an effect of the expression of caspase-3 with or without addition of TNF-alpha.
Caspase 3* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Magnesium Sulfate* ; Magnesium* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Umbilical Cord ; Umbilical Veins* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the amniotic fluid levels and each ratio of activin A, inhin A and B in Down's syndrome and other complicated pregnancies. METHODS: This study was performed in 71 women who had undergone a midtrimester amniocentesis with the clinical indications and whose pregnancy outcome was retrospectively determined. Ten Down's syndrome, 15 complicated pregnancies including, preeclamsia, gestational diabetesis mellitus, preterm labor, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and 46 noncomplicated pregnancies with normal chromosome were included in this study. Amniotic fluid activin A, inhibin A and B were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed with Mann-Whitney U test and regression analysis. RESULTS: There were significant positive correlation (r=0.277, p=0.011) between the ratio activin A/ inhibin B level and maternal age and significant positive correlation (r=0.261, p=0.015) between maternal age and the ratio inhibin A/inhibin B level. There were also significant positive correlation (r=0.202, p=0.045) between gestational weeks and inhibin A levels and significant positive correlation (r=0.474, p<0.001) between gestational weeks and inhibin B levels. Amniotic fluid inhibin A and inhibin B levels were significantly (p<0.05) decreased in Down's syndrome compared with the normal chromosomal groups but there was no difference in the ratio activin A/inhibin A and in the ratio activin A/inhibin B between these groups. The amniotic fluid levels of activin A, inhibins (A and B), each ratio of complicated pregnancies groups with normal chromosome was not significantly different from those of uncomplicated pregnancies with normal chromosome. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that amniotic inhibin levels were significantly decreased in Down's syndrome. But, activin A and each ratio were unchanged. The results suggest that activin A may be relatively decreased in each case of Down's syndrome.
Activins ; Amniocentesis ; Amniotic Fluid* ; Down Syndrome* ; Female ; Humans ; Inhibins* ; Maternal Age ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Pregnancy* ; Retrospective Studies