Genetic Polymorphisms in Patients with Endometriosis in the Korean Population

To analyze a wide variety of polymorphisms in patients with endometriosis is important since this disease has a strong genetic component. Until now, more than 30 Korean studies have been performed in order to elucidate the possible role of specific polymorphisms in the susceptibility to endometriosis. The most meaningful polymorphisms in Korean patients with endometriosis came from studies investigating GSTM1, AhRR, ER-alpha, VEGF, AHSG, and TNF-alpha. However, following studies should be made to confirm the consistency of the data to have some implications in the prediction of endometriosis. In this review, we also present the future direction of the association studies in complex trait disease such as endometriosis.

A study on the clinical characteristics of emergency peripartum hysterectomy / 대한주산의학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics and associated risk factors for emergency peripartum hysterectomy classified by the amounts of blood loss. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 159 cases of peripartum hysterectomy among 46,666 deliveries, from Jan. 1995 to Dec. 2005 at the Dept. of Ob. & Gy. of Graduate School of Medicine, Gachon University of Medicine and Science. We divided the 159 cases into three groups based on the amounts of blood loss, which were group A as less than 2,000 mL of blood loss, group B as 2,000 to 4,000 mL of blood loss, and group C as more than 4,000 mL. The incidence, the type of delivery, the amounts of transfusion, the operative indication and the complications of peripartum hysterectomy were evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence of peripartum hysterectomy was 0.34% (159/46,666) and 0.47% in cases of cesarean section and 0.19% in vaginal delivery, respectively. There was no meaningful correlation between maternal age, parity, gestational age, hospital stay and amount of blood loss. The increments of blood loss correlated to the frequency of peripartum hysterectomy after cesarean section (p<0.05). The most common operative indication in group A was uterine atony (47.19%), and those in group B and C were adherent placentation (48.08%, 50.00%). Intraoperative and postoperative complications according to excessive bleeding were increased, and DIC, pulmonary infection, urethral and bladder injury were observed more frequently in group C than in group A. CONCLUSION: The emergency peripartum hysterectomy was related to adherent placentation and was accompanied with increased blood loss.

Clinical Features of Symptomatic Meckel's Diverticulum / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: The proper diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is difficult and delayed because of the variety of clinical manifestations. We reviewed clinical characteristics of symptomatic MD to facilitate early detection. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively the clinical manifestations, diagnostic tools, histopathological findings, and operative findings in 58 patients with symptomatic MD. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 2.8 : 1. The most common symptom of MD was bleeding. Others symptoms included: vomiting, abdominal pain, irritability, abdominal distension and fever in the order of frequency. The clinical manifestations of symptomatic MD were lower gastrointestinal bleeding, intestinal obstruction, perforation, diverticulitis and hemoperitoneum, in the order of frequency. The causes of intestinal obstruction were intussusception, internal hernia, band, volvulus, invagination, in the order of frequency. Seventy five percent of patient with MD were diagnosed prior to 5 years of age. The most frequently used diagnostic tool was the Meckel's scan. The diverticulum was located 2 cm to 120 cm proximal to the ileocecal valve. The length of the diverticulum ranged from 1 cm to 10 cm and 94% were less than 5 cm. The most common ectopic tissue found in the MD was gastric mucosa. Ileal resection was more frequently performed than diverticulectomy. CONCLUSION: In cases of unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding, obstruction and repeated intussusception, the meckel's scan, ultrasound and computed tomography shoud be considered to rule out MD, and if clinically necessary, an exploratory laparotomy when needed.