Clinical experiences of 7 cases of primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical experiences of patients with the primary tubal cancer diagnosed and treated in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gacheon Medical School from January 1996 to December 2000. METHODS: Age, symptoms, Pap smear, CA-125, preoperative diagnosis, mode of surgery, stage, additional pathologic finding, mode of adjuvant therapy and survival periods of patients were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 57.4 years. The symptoms were vaginal spotting, leukorrhea and pelvic mass. Three patients were treated by simple hysterectomy and both salpingoophorectomy. Staging laparotomy was done in 4 patients. Three patients were in stage I, 2 patients were in stage II and 2 patients were in stage III. Endometrial adenocarcinoma was present in 1 patient and endometrial hyperplasia was present in 1 patient. The mean follow-up period of five patients were 25.4 months and 2 patients were lost for follow-up. Conclusions: The primary tubal cancer was rare gynecologic malignancy and the preoperative diagnosis was difficult due to non-specific symptoms and signs. Staging laparotomy and adjuvant chemotherapy should be done like in ovarian cancer. More studies may be needed for the associated endometiral diseases.

Bcl - 2 and bax expression in endometrial hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma / 대한산부인과학회잡지

No abstract available.

BCL-2 and BAX Expression in Normal Human Endometrium / 대한불임학회지

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution of BCL-2, BAX proteins and DNA fragmented cells in the normal human endometrium during at each menstrual cycle in order to find out whether apoptosis regulates cyclic endometrial change. METHODS: Normal endometrial tissues wee obtained from 40 patients, 32~45 year of age, all with regular menstrual cycle, who were undergoing abdominal hysterectomy for myoma of uterus or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia for period from 1992 through 1997. Immunohistochemical staining was used to determine the expression of BCL-2 and BAX protein with paraffin-embedded tissues. RESULTS: BCL-2 was expressed on the glandular epithelial cells and stromal cells during the proliferative phase. The intensity of BCL-2 was increased predominantly on the basal layer than the functional layer in late proliferative phase. However, BCL-2 immunoreactivity was decreased in the secretory phase. BAX wes expressed predominantly during the secretory phase. the intensity was increased in late secretory phase rather than early secretory phase. DNA fragmented cells were detected in a few cells at each phase. However, it was increased during the late secretory phase. CONCLUSION: Apoptosis-related genes, BCL-2 and BAX, may play a role in the regulation of cyclic endometrial change.

Intrauterine Growth Curve of Twins on the Basis of Gestational Age / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: In order to investigate more accurate patterns of intrauterine growth in twin fetuses, we constructed the twin-specific growth curve based on gestational age in live-born non-anomalous infants. METHODS: 563 twin pairs, 1,126 infants delivered between January 1994 and October 1999 were comprised our study population. The newborns were grouped according to gestational age and the median, 10th, 50th, and 90th percentile birth weight for each gestational week were calculated. Curves were plotted for the general population and for each gender and parity and compared with previously reported singleton's growth curve. RESULTS: After 32 weeks gestation, birth weight of twins falls below that of singleton, so that by 38 weeks the 50th percentile for twins falls below the singleton 10th percentile. This difference was also present among all subgroups of twins, such as gender and parity. And the mean birth weight in male twin infant was heavier than in female twin infant throughout all gestational week. CONCLUSION: The pattern of growth in twin infants differed from those of singleton. We recommend twin-specific growth curve for clinical use in the management of twin gestations.

Factors associated with fetal losses after mid-trimester amniocentesis / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate factors associated with fetal losses following mid-trimester diagnostic amniocentesis. METHODS: 412 pregnancy outcomes following amniocentesis were analyzed for each variables(maternal age, gestational age, indication for the amniocentesis, placental penetration by aspiration needle, needle touch by the fetus, color of amniotic fluid) with statistical methods(student t-test, chi-square test and multiple logistic regression test). RESULTS: Mean maternal age was 31.8+/-4.9 years, fetal loss rate was increased slightly with the age of the mother. If the indications were abnormally high maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein level, the pregnancy courses after the procedure were worse than other indication groups. In cases of discolored amniotic fluid, the dark brown discoloration made the pregnancy outcome poor. Gestational age at the time of the procedure, penetration of the placenta by the aspirating needle, needle touch during the procedure by the fetus, did not influence the outcomes after the procedure. CONCLUSION: Maternal age, indication as neural tube defect in triple test and dark brown discoloration of amniotic fluid are associated with fetal losses following mid-trimester diagnostic amniocentesis.

The clinical experience of LLETZ / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate how resection margin involvement after LLETZ affect treatment of CIN and microinvasive cervical cancer, and several factors affecting the resection margin involvement. METHOD: Retrospective analysis was performed in 160 patients that underwent LLETZ at Gachon Medical College, Gil Medical Center from March, 1997 to September , 1998. The several factors affecting the resection margin involvement were analyzed. RESULT: The following results were obtained. 1. 127 patients were diagnosized finally with CIN, 30 patients with microinvasive SCC and 3 patients with chronic inflammation. 2. The rate of the negative resection margin involvement was 81% and that of the positive was 19%. 3. No case among 129 cases with the negative resection margin had residual lesion, but 9 cases among 31 cases with the positive resection margin had residual lesion. As a whole, the rate of residual lesion was 6.2%. 4. In CIN, 3 cases of 19 cases with the positive resection margin had residual lesion, but none with the negative resection margin had. 5. The degree of histopathology, glandular involvement, menopause, colposcopic evaluation were correlated with the resection margin involvement but delivery mode and HPV infection not correlated. CONCLUSION: LLETZ is a enough method to reduce unnecessary hysterectomy in the treatment of CIN, if followed up, in spite of the positive resection margin because of low rate of lesidual lesion, and is a effective method in the treatment of microinvasive cervical cancer when the case with negative resection margin and no lymphovascular invasion was followed up.

Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Pregnancy / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus seropositivity and define the risk factors for HCV infection in a group of pregnant women and the effect of HCV infection to mother and baby at the time of delivery. METHODS: From March 1997 to February 1998, 5655 women who delivered over 20 gestational weeks at our hospital were screened for HCV-Antibody(RIA), and the samples of most of HCV-Ab positive cases were analyzed for HCV-RNA by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). We also studied the risk factors for HCV infection, the effect of HCV infection to mothers and neonates at delivery. RESULTS: Of 5655 mothers 25 (0.44%) were HCV-Ab positive, and 20 of HCV-Ab positive mothers were analyzed for HCV-RNA by PCR. Of 20 HCV-Ab positive mothers 12 cases (60%) were HCV-RNA positive. Risk factors significantly more prevalent among HCV-seropositive patients were : a history of habitual intraveneous drug use, a history of smoking, alcohol drinking during pregnancy, having liver cirrhorsis. The proportions who had received a blood transfusion, had a history or ongoing syphilis or were positive for hepatitis B virus surface antigen were not significantly different between seropositive and seronegative women. Liver function test at delivery was abnormal in 4 cases(16%) of HCV-Ab positive group. And the number of abnomal liver function test cases in HCV-Ab negative group were 47(0.83%). This had statistical difference. In neonates at delivery, all 20 neonates of 20 ones having HCV-Ab positive mother were HCV-Ab positive. But only 2 cases of 20 babies were HCV-RNA positive. CONCLUSION: Mothers who have risk factors such as injecting drug use, smoking, alchohol drinking and liver cirrhorsis, should undergo HCV-Ab testing and quantitative HCV-RNA testing by PCR. More advanced studies about vertical transmission of HCV infection are needed.