The Relationship Among Umbilical Cord Plasma Matrix Metalloproteinase-8 and Interleukin-6 Concentration, Funisitis, Amniotic Fluid Infection and Neonatal Outcome / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether funisitis is associated with changes in the umbilical cord plasma concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity and neonatal outcome. METHODS: The relationship among the presence of funisitis, IL-6 and MMP-8 concentrations in umbilical cord plasma at birth, the results of amniotic fluid culture performed within 5 days of birth was examined in 83 consecutive singleton births (20-35 weeks' gestation). Funisitis was diagnosed in the presence of neutrophil infiltration into the umbilical vessel wall or Wharton's jelly. The IL-6 and MMP-8 concentration was measured with a specific immunoassay. Amniocentesis was performed in 47 patients within 5 days of birth. RESULTS: (1) Funisitis was present in 21.7% of patients. (2) Patients with funisitis had a significant higher cord plasma IL-6 concentration, but had no significant difference in cord plasma MMP-8 concentration. (3) Clinical chorioamnionitis was more common in patients with funisitis than those without funisitis. (4) A cord plasma IL-6 > 6.34 pg/ml had a sensitivity of 77.8% and a specificity of 75.4% in the identification of funisitis. (5) No correlation between cord blood plasma IL-6 concentration and MMP-8 concentration was found. (6) There was no significant correlation between gestational age at birth and cord blood plasma MMP-8 concentrations, but there appeared to be a trend to increase of cord plasma MMP-8 concentrations as gestational ages at birth were increased. (7) Neonates with congenital sepsis had a significantly higher cord plasma IL-6 and MMP-8 concentration than those without congenital sepsis. CONCLUSION: In patient with funisitis, umbilical cord plasma IL-6 concentrations were higher than those without funisitis, but umbilical cord plasma MMP-8 concentrations had no significant difference in each group. The umbilical cord plasma IL-6 and MMP-8 can be useful as a predictor of the occurrence of congenital sepsis in preterm infant.

A Case of Pelvic Actinomycosis Associated with Intrauterine Device / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Pelvic actinomycosis is a rare disease and has diverse clinical manifestations and courses which make it difficult to diagnose the disease initially. Therefore the disease is still often diagnosed first at a laparotomy for a suspected malignant tumor. Since Henderson`s report (1973), the association between pelvic actinomycosis and intrauterine device has been recognized by gynecologists. IUD is thought to cause chronic intrauterine infection, tissue injury, and act as nucleus for parasitic infection. We report a case of Pelvic Actinomycosis related to IUD with brief review of concerned literatures.

A case of osteoma in right ovarian fibroma / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Ovarian fibroma is one of the sex cord-stromal tumor, and accounts for about 5 percent of all ovarian tumors surgically removed. This tumor is almost always unilateral and appears to affect the left ovary more often (75%) than the right. Calcification is one of the secondary changes that can take place in a fibroma of ovary. The occurrence of ossification in these calcified fibromas is rare. We experienced a case of an ovarian calcified fibroma with ossification occurring in a 19 year old, unmarried woman with a brief review of literature.