OBJECTIVES: The bone mineral density (BMD) of young aged women was not fully investigated because of the limited indication of BMD test. This study was to investigate mean Z-score of BMD in healthy young aged Korean women and to find out factors influencing the BMD score in her twenties and thirties. METHODS: A total 876 young aged (20-40 years) women who had taken dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for BMD screening from 2010 to 2014 were analyzed retrospectively using demographic data including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and serum lipid profile. We compared the two age groups, in her twenties and thirties, regarding BMD and other parameters.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density ; Female ; Hip ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyrotropin ; Waist Circumference

Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) is characterized by varying degrees of interstitial fibrosis. IL-13 and IL-4 are strong inducers of tissue fibrosis, whereas IFN-gamma has antifibrotic potential. However, the roles of these substances in IIP remain unknown. IL-13, IL-4, and IFN-gamma were measured in the BAL fluid of 16 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients, 10 nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) patients, and 8 normal controls. The expression of IL-13 and IL-13Ralpha1/alpha2 in lung tissues was analyzed using ELISA and immunohistochemistry. IL-13 levels were significantly higher in IPF patients than the others (P<0.05). IL-4 levels were higher in both IPF and NSIP patients than in normal controls (P<0.05), and IFN-gamma levels were lower in NSIP patients than in normal controls (P=0.047). IL-13 levels correlated inversely with FVC% (r=-0.47, P=0.043) and DLCO% (r=-0.58, P=0.014) in IPF and NSIP patients. IL-13 was strongly expressed in the smooth muscle, bronchial epithelium, alveolar macrophages and endothelium of IPF patients. IL-13Ralpha1, rather than IL-13Ralpha2, was strongly expressed in the smooth muscle, bronchial epithelium, and endothelium of IPF patients. IL-13 and its receptors may contribute to the pathogenesis of fibrosis in IIP and appear to be related to the severity of the disease.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias/diagnosis/*metabolism ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis/diagnosis/*metabolism ; Interferon-gamma/analysis ; Interleukin-13/*analysis ; Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha1 Subunit/*metabolism ; Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha2 Subunit/*metabolism ; Interleukin-4/analysis ; Lung/physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

Ectopic adrenal tissue is observed in about 50% of neonates, but observed in about 1% of adults as it atrophies and disappears over time. In most cases, ectopic adrenal tissue is found in organs below the diaphragm such as liver, pancreas, kidney, transverse colon and male and female genital tract. However, ectopic adrenal tissue found in the uterine adnexa is a very rare case through the world. Ectopic adrenal tissue was incidentally found in the right uterine adnexa after total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingooophorectomy, so we report this case with a brief review of literatures.
Adult ; Atrophy ; Colon, Transverse ; Diaphragm ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Infant, Newborn ; Kidney ; Liver ; Male ; Pancreas

Sclerosing stromal tumor (SST) is a rare benign neoplasm of ovarian stromal origin and predominantly affects young women in the second and third decades. This tumor characteristically differentiates itself histologically and clinically from both thecomas and fibromas. We present a case of huge SST of the ovary weighing 10 kg in a 71-year-old postmenopausal woman with a brief review of the literature.
Aged ; Female ; Fibroma ; Humans ; Ovary ; Thecoma

Sclerosing stromal tumor (SST) is a rare benign neoplasm of ovarian stromal origin and predominantly affects young women in the second and third decades. This tumor characteristically differentiates itself histologically and clinically from both thecomas and fibromas. We present a case of huge SST of the ovary weighing 10 kg in a 71-year-old postmenopausal woman with a brief review of the literature.
Aged ; Female ; Fibroma ; Humans ; Ovary ; Thecoma

Signet ring cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix is most commonly considered to be metastatic in origin. We describe one case of primary signet ring cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix occuring in 49-year-old patient. The lesion was located at the posterior lip of the cervix and about 3 cm in size. This case was parametrium thickening in pelvic examination and positive for HPV type 18. CCRT (concurrent chemoradiotherapy) was done for clinical FIGO stage II B adenocarcinoma of the cervix. The patient is alive for 6month since diagnosis and disappear lesion of the cervix. A upper gastroenteroscopy, colonoscopy, cystoscopy, intravenous pyelogram, abdominal pelvic CT, PET CT, mammogram were reported negative. Therefore we concluded this case for a primary cervical origin of signet ring cell adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Cervix Uteri* ; Colonoscopy ; Cystoscopy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gynecological Examination ; Humans ; Lip ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To determine preliminary evidence for the safety and efficacy of B lymphocyte depletion therapy in refractory systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Four female lupus nephritis patients who had been refractory to steroid and one or more immunosuppressive therapy were treated on an open-label basis. During a 4-week period, each patient received two 500-mg infusions of rituximab and two 750-mg infusions of cyclophosphamide. RESULTS: Patient 1, 2, and 3 were responded with rituximab treatment with improvements in SLEDAI and laboratory parameters such as C3/C4 and 24 hour urine protein. However, patient 4 had not improved with rituximab. The variation in the level of anti-double-stranded DNA antibody was different in individual patients. No significant adverse events were observed during follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study provides an evidence for the safety and possible efficacy of B lymphocyte depletion therapy in refractory lupus nephritis. However a further randomized trial is needed to confirm the efficacy and durability of remission.
Cyclophosphamide ; DNA ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Lupus Nephritis* ; Lymphocyte Depletion ; Rituximab

OBJECTIVE: GnRH-agonist (GnRH-Ag) used in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for IVF-ET has been known to affect directly on apoptosis of human ovarian cells, but its mechanism is not clearly understood. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate whether caspase-3 and -9 activation and poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase (PARP) cleavage are involved in the mechanism(s) by which GnRH-Ag induces apoptosis in human granulosa-luteal cells. METHODS: Human granulosa-luteal cells collected from IVF-ET patients were cultured and treated with 10(-6) M GnRH-Ag or saline as a control. To access apoptosis in the cells, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay and DNA fragmentation analysis were preformed 24 h after the treatment. Activity of caspase-3 and -9 in the cells was examined by using a fluorogenic substrate. Caspase-3 and -9 activation and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage were analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS: DNA fragmentation in the cells increased in the higher concentration over 10(-6) M GnRH-Ag. In the result of TUNEL assay, the rate of apoptotic cells in GnRH-Ag treatment increased significantly compared with that of saline treatment (p<0.05). The activity of caspase-3 and -9 investigated by using a fluorogenic substrate increased only in the apoptotic cells. In Western blot analysis, the cells treated with GnRH-Ag revealed an increase in active forms of caspase-3 and -9 compared with those of the saline treatment. In addition, cleavage of PARP also increased in the cells treated with GnRH-Ag. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that activation of caspase-3 and -9 and cleavage of PARP might be involved in apoptosis of human granulosa-luteal cells induced by GnRH-Ag.
Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3* ; DNA Fragmentation ; DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase ; Female ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Humans* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Luteal Cells*

The characteristic features of Churg-Strauss syndrome are vasculitis, both intra- and extravascular granuloma formation with eosinophilic tissue infiltration, and strong association with asthma and peripheral eosinophilia. Churg-Strauss syndrome with pleural effusion is relatively common and only a few cases have previously been reported in Korea. We report a case of Churg-Strauss syndrome with pleural effusion confirmed by VATS.
Asthma ; Churg-Strauss Syndrome* ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Granuloma ; Korea ; Pleural Effusion ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Vasculitis

BACKGROUND: Acute aortic dissection associated with high mortality rate has an extremely poor prognosis if early diagnosis and treatment are not received. Recently, with advanced computed tomography and echocardiography, diagnostic rate is higher and early operation is possible. Therefore preoperative medical therapy at ER(emergency room) lowered the mortality rate. This study was done to analyze the results with preoperative management at ER and operations, retrospectively. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A series of 42 patients treated surgically for acute aortic dissections from 1991 to 2001 were included in this study. There were 18 males and 24 females. Mean age was 51.1 years. The admission course through emergency and outpatient department(OPD) was 34 and 8 respectively. RESULT: 26 patients underwent ascending aorta replacement-7 combined aortic valve replacements, 7 patients underwent descending aorta replacements and 9 patients received Bentall's operation. At emergency department, 20 patients received antihypertensive drugs and beta-receptor blockers and 6 patients died. 22 patients did not receive antihypertensive and beta-receptor block drugs and 10 patients died. There were 16(38%) overall deaths. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis at ER or OPD is essential for acute aortic dissection, and it is important to select the most appropriate noninvasive interventions as possible. Therefore, preoperative drug therapy at ER is suggested according the patient conditions.
Aneurysm, Dissecting ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Valve ; Drug Therapy ; Early Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Outpatients ; Preoperative Care ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies