Automatic Measurement of Postural Abnormalities With a Pose Estimation Algorithm in Parkinson’s Disease

Objective@#This study aims to develop an automated and objective tool to evaluate postural abnormalities in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. @*Methods@#We applied a deep learning-based pose-estimation algorithm to lateral photos of prospectively enrolled PD patients (n = 28). We automatically measured the anterior flexion angle (AFA) and dropped head angle (DHA), which were validated with conventional manual labeling methods. @*Results@#The automatically measured DHA and AFA were in excellent agreement with manual labeling methods (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.95) with mean bias equal to or less than 3 degrees. @*Conclusion@#The deep learning-based pose-estimation algorithm objectively measured postural abnormalities in PD patients.

Development of Clinical Milestones in Parkinson’s Disease After Bilateral Subthalamic Deep Brain Stimulation

Objective@#Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients does not halt disease progression, as these patients will progress and develop disabling non-levodopa responsive symptoms. These features may act as milestones that represent the overall functionality of patients after DBS. The objective of this study was to investigate the development of clinical milestones in advanced PD patients who underwent bilateral STN-DBS. @*Methods@#The study evaluated PD patients who underwent STN-DBS at baseline up to their last follow-up using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale and Hoehn and Yahr scale. The symptoms of hallucinations, dysarthria, dysphagia, frequent falls, difficulty walking, cognitive impairment and the loss of autonomy were chosen as the clinical milestones. @*Results@#A total of 106 patients with a mean age of 47.21 ± 10.52 years at disease onset, a mean age of 58.72 ± 8.74 years at surgery and a mean disease duration of 11.51 ± 4.4 years before surgery were included. Initial improvement of motor symptoms was seen after the surgery with the appearance of clinical milestones over time. Using the moderately disabling criteria, 81 patients (76.41%) developed at least one clinical milestone, while 48 patients (45.28%) developed a milestone when using the severely disabling criteria. @*Conclusion@#STN-DBS has a limited effect on axial and nonmotor symptoms of the PD patients, in contrast to the effect on motor symptoms. These symptoms may serve as clinical milestones that can convey the status of PD patients and its impact on the patients and their caregivers. Therefore, advanced PD patients, even those treated with bilateral STN-DBS, will still require assistance and cannot live independently in the long run.

Postoperative outcomes of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery-assisted vaginal hysterectomy and conventional laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy: a comparative study

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to determine the differences in outcomes between natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (NAVH) and conventional laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients who between July 2012 and September 2015, were diagnosed as having benign uterine disease such as uterine myoma, endometriosis, or adenomyosis and managed via NAVH or LAVH in a single-center (Eulji University Hospital). Data such as age, body weight, height, parity, operation time, intra/post-operative complications, and uterus weight were obtained from the clinical charts. NAVH and LAVH recipients were matched 1:3 in terms of baseline characteristics, and the 2 groups were compared regarding surgical outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 160 patients with benign uterine disease included in the present study. Forty received NAVH and remaining 120 received LAVH. There were significant differences between the groups regarding operation time and hemoglobin change. Notably, although the operation time was shorter for LAVH, hemoglobin change was lower for NAVH. Additionally, although maximum hospitalization duration was shorter for LAVH, the average length of hospitalization was similar between NAVH and LAVH. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of other variables. CONCLUSION: NAVH may become a new alternative surgical method of choice for hysterectomy, as it represents a clinically feasible and safe approach; moreover is superior to LAVH in terms of bleeding loss.

Ectopic Pregnancy Implanted on Uterine Myoma / 이화의대지

Ectopic pregnancy is an implantation of the fertilized ovum outside the uterine cavity. Most of ectopic pregnancies are located within the fallopian tube. We describe a rare case of 34-year-old woman complaining of lower abdominal pain and positive urinary pregnancy test. Pelvic ultrasound exam suggested tubal pregnancy with hemoperitoneum. However, pelviscopy revealed the bleeding point was subserosal myoma located just next to the right ovary. Uterus and both fallopian tubes were grossly free. Laparoscopic myomectomy with ectopic mass excision was performed and we observed the serial decrease of beta-hCG level. Patient was well recovered and postoperative finding was not remarkable. Hereby, we report a rare case of ectopic pregnancy on uterine myoma with subserosal type with a brief review of literatures.

A Case of Adult Onset Glycogen Storage Myopathy / 대한임상신경생리학회지

Primary metabolic myopathy as a type of congenital myopathies was first described by McArdle in 1951. Glycogen storage disease is a disease caused by genetic mutations involved in glycogen synthesis, glycogenolysis or glycolysis. Several types of glycogen storage disease are known to cause metabolic myopathies. We report a case of adult onset metabolic myopathy with glycogen storage.

Neuropathic Pruritus as Relapse Symptom in Neuromyelitis Optica

No abstract available.

Risk Factors Associated with Group B Streptococcus Resistant to Clindamycin and Erythromycin in Pregnant Korean Women / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of group B streptococcus (GBS) among pregnant women and neonates in the Republic of Korea has increased. In addition, rates of resistance to antibiotics recommended for pregnant women allergic to penicillin, such as clindamycin and erythromycin, have increased. The aim of this study was to evaluate subject characteristics associated with GBS resistance to clindamycin and erythromycin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 418 clinical isolates from pregnant women in Korea were screened for antibiotic resistance from January 2006 to December 2011. Sociodemographic information, medical and obstetric history, and details of events during the previous 2 weeks were recorded using a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS: The resistance rates were 39.5% for clindamycin and 23.0% for erythromycin. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the subject characteristic significantly associated with resistance to both antibiotics was a history of symptomatic sore throat in the 2 weeks before obtaining the specimen (erythromycin: odds ratio [OR]: 2.13, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10 to 4.13; clindamycin: OR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.21, 4.42). Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) had an association of borderline significance. CONCLUSIONS: In the urgent treatment of GBS-colonized pregnant women, the subject's history of previous sore throat and PROM should be considered when choosing appropriate antibiotics.

Spindle Cell Rhabdomyosacoma of Uterus: A Case Study

Uterine rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) typically presents as a mixed epithelial and mesenchymal tumors. Pure RMSs of the female genital tract are uncommon. Spindle cell variant of RMS is a rare morphologic subtype of embryonal RMS and mostly occurs in the paratesticular region of children. Here, we present a case of uterine spindle cell RMS in a 76-year-old woman. The tumor, 20x15x7 cm in size, was highly necrotic and adherent to the colon and rectum. Tumor cells were mostly spindle-shaped, and isolated rhabdomyoblasts were scattered. Immunohistochemical stains for myoglobin and myo-D1 showed diffuse positivity for tumor cells. The patient died only of disease three months after diagnosis.

Risk Factors for Group B Streptococcus Colonization Among Pregnant Women in Korea / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: To identify obstetric and maternal factors related to Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization in pregnant women in Korea. METHODS: The study was conducted between the years 2006-2008 in four hospitals, Cheil and Eulji hospital in Seoul, and Motae and Eulji hospital in Daejeon. We recruited 2,644 pregnant women between 35 to 37 weeks of gestation who had visited for antenatal care. Participants completed a questionnaire, and urine, vaginal and rectal specimens were obtained and cultured using selective broth media. After delivery, medical records were reviewed. RESULTS: GBS colonization was significantly associated with hospital, age group, education, frequency of pregnancy, and premature rupture of membranes (PROM, more than 18 hours). After adjustment for other variables, Cheil hospital (odds ratio [OR], 2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20-3.52), and the first pregnancy (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.12-4.81) remained significant. History of vaginitis showed marginal significance (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 0.98-2.29). CONCLUSION: To prevent GBS infection of neonates, clinicians should be alert to the potentially higher risk of GBS colonization in pregnant women in their first pregnancy, and women with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) (18 hours+) or who have a history of vaginitis.

Changing Molecular Epidemiology of Group B Streptococcus in Korea

The prevalence of group B streptococcus (GBS) among pregnant women and disease burdens in neonates and adults are increasing in Korea. Colonizing isolates, collected by screening pregnant women (n=196), and clinical isolates collected from clinical patients throughout Korea (n=234), were serotyped and screened for antibiotic resistance. Serotype III (29.8%) and V (27.7%) predominated, followed by Ia (17.0%). Antibiotic resistance was higher among clinical than colonizing isolates for erythromycin (35.1% and 26.9%; P=0.10) and for clindamycin (49.4% and 42.1%; P=0.17). erm(B) occurred in 91.9% of erythromycin resistant isolates, and 84.0% of isolates resistant to clindamycin. Only five isolates (4.2%) resistant to erythromycin were susceptible to clindamycin; by contrast, and unique to Korea, 34% of isolates resistant to clindamycin were erythromycin susceptible. Among these 60 erythromycin-susceptible & clindamycin-resistant isolates, 88% was serotype III, and lnu(B) was found in 89% of strains. Four fifths of the serotype V isolates were resistant to both erythromycin and clindamycin. Further characterization of the genetic assembly of these resistance conferring genes, erm(B) and lnu(B), will be useful to establish the clonal lineages of multiple resistance genes carrying strains.

Usefulness of Table Parameters of Stratus OCT in Detection of Localized Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Defects

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of table parameters of Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT) in order to detect localized retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defects. METHODS: The present study included 86 glaucoma patients with only localized, wedge-shaped RNFL defects, as determined by red-free RNFL photographs. All subjects were tested fast RNFL scans, using of Stratus OCT. The sensitivity of the clock hour parameter and 11 table parameters of RNFL thickness average analysis were compared. RESULTS: The best parameters in the superior table parameter of the Stratus OCT were Smax, Savg, and Smax/Tavg (sensitivity = 36.7%, 36.7%, 36.7%, respectively). The best parameters in the inferior table parameter of the Stratus OCT were Iavg, Imax, and Imax/Smax (sensitivity = 63.8%, 59.4%, and 50.7%, respectively). However, all were significantly lower than the sensitivity of the clock hour parameter (superior RNFL defect: 60%; inferior RNFL defect: 84.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The usefulness of the table parameters of the Stratus OCT used to detect localized RNFL defects in glaucoma patients is considered low because of its low sensitivity.

The effect of GM-CSF on the expression of implantation-related genes in mouse embryo / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: GM-CSF is produced in female reproductive tract and may play an important role in the process of implantation. Body of evidence suggests that GM-CSF could improve pregnancy rate in many species of mammals when it was added in culture media. The aim of this study is to assess how GM-CSF affects the expression of implantation-related genes in mouse embryo. METHODS: Two hundred mouse embryos were divided into control and GM-CSF treated groups. The embryos were treated with or without 10 ng/ml of GM-CSF for 72 hours. Total RNA was isolated and compared with oligo microarray. The implantation-related genes influenced by GM-CSF were repeatedly analyzed by real-time PCR. RESULTS: After oligo microarray, 64 genes were increased and 35 genes were decreased by GM-CSF. Among those genes, MMP2, FABP3, Dppa5 and TAS1 were selected for real-time PCR analysis. Four integrins and FAK were also selected. We confirmed the increase of MMP2 and FABP3 by GM-CSF with real-time RT-PCR (1.687 and 1.580 fold, respectively). Other genes were found to be minimally increased. CONCLUSION: GM-CSF induces the increased expression of MMP2 mRNA in mouse embryo, and then increases the invasiveness of the trophoblast. The role of FABP3 in the process of implantation remained to be elucidated.

Who is more appropriate to do metabolic control of pregnancy complicated by diabetes?: Comparison of internist and obstetrician / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To compared obstetric outcomes of pregnancies complicated by diabetes according to the managing department and to consider role of obstetrician and endocrinologist METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 72 pregnant women managed for diabetes during March 2004 to December 2006 was performed. Eighteen women had been managed by obstetricians (Group I) while 54 women had been managed by endocrinologists of internal medicine (Group II) during their pregnancies at Eulji Hospital. None of these patients had multiple pregnancies, abnormal karyotype, or other medical disorders other than diabetes. Pregnancy outcomes were compared between two groups. RESULTS: No difference was found with regard to the age, parity, BMI (body mass index), weight gain during the pregnancy, and the gestational weeks of delivery. There was also no difference in the blood glucose levels after 100 gm OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test) and HbA1C levels in two groups. The neonatal birth weight of group I (2.89+/-0.21 kg) was significantly lower than that of group II (3.38+/-0.08 kg, P=0.040). The 1 min APGAR score, which was corrected by weight through ANCOVA test, was also significantly lower in group I (7.11+/-0.51 vs 8.11+/-0.19, P=0.028). But There was no difference in 5 min APGAR score. The incidence of birth weight over 3.8kg was significantly higher in group II [37/54 (68.5%) vs 1/17 (5.6%), P=0.030]. Neonatal hypoglycemia was also higher in group II (37.0% vs 11.1%, P=0.043). Other neonatal and maternal complications associated with diabetes were not significantly different between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In medical point of view, obstetrician can effectively manage diabetes during pregnancy as good as internist. Besides, the management by obstetricians may be more economic, less annoying, and can induce more compliance and motivation of the patients.

Free-floating Pigmented Iris Cyst in the Anterior Chamber

PURPOSE: The aim of this project is to report the successful removal of a free - floating pigmented iris cyst in a patient ' s anterior chamber, which was causing visual disturbance. CASE SUMMARY: A 27 - year - old man visited our hospital because of an intermittent visual disturbance in his right eye developed two months prior to admission. There was no history of ocular trauma, surgery, inflammation, or a general medical problem. On slit lamp examination, we found a free - floating translucent pigmented iris cyst, which was ovoid in shape and about 3 mm in size in the right eye near the pupil margin. Moving in the anterior chamber, the cyst caused visual disturbance because it partly covered the pupil. It was also near the endothelium. Through the clear cornea incision, the iris cyst was removed successfully. From histopathologic investigation of the cyst, the tissue was found to consist of mature pigment epithelium, including pigment granules CONCLUSIONS: A free - floating pigmented iris cyst in the anterior chamber generally does not result in any complications and maintains its condition stably without changing in size. Hence, as long as it does not cause complications, no treatment is necessary. However, if it causes visual disturbance or it damages endothelial cells or causes glaucoma or any other intraocular complication, it needs to be treated. In the case of our patient, visual disturbance did occur and we removed the iris cyst through an operation. Such a case has not been reported before in South Korea.

Endocrine response to step-up microdose GnRH agonist / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the endocrine response to step-up microdose GnRH agonist. METHODS: Administration of triptorelin acetate was initiated from 2 mg and gradually increased to 50 mg during 6-day period to five normal menstruating women. Serum FSH, LH, and estradiol levels were serially measured for 6 days. The same set of experiment was duplicated after taking oral contraceptive for 3 weeks. Serum testosterone and progesterone levels were measured on day 1 and day 5 of experiment. RESULTS: The flare of gonadotropin continued for 6 days. When subjects were pretreated with oral contraceptive, serum FSH levels 4 hrs after GnRH agonist injection were 17.35+/-7.88 mIU/mL, 11.26+/-4.81 mIU/mL, and 9.60+/-4.08 mIU/mL for day 1, 2, and 3 respectively. The FSH levels were not statistically different when pretreatment with oral contraceptive was not applied. The level of serum LH was significantly lower in the cycle, which was pretreated by oral contraceptive (32.13+/-9.61 mIU/mL vs. 14.12+/-5.63 mIU/mL for day 1, 28.95+/-3.09 mIU/mL vs. 15.76+/-9.92 mIU/mL for day 2, and 24.45+/-2.52 mIU/mL vs. 16.86+/-8.56 mIU/mL for day 3). The sign of corpus luteum rescue was found in 2 out of 5 subjects only in non-treated cycle. CONCLUSION: Step-up microdose GnRH agonist protocol could induce persistent gonadotropin flare for 6 days and this regimen could be applied in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation especially for poor responders. The pretreatment with oral contraceptive is necessary to prevent supraphysiologic LH elevation and corpus luteum rescue.

Clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of hyperemesis gravidarum / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: It is controversial that hyperemesis gravidarum has adverse effect on pregnancy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes in women with hyperemesis gravidarum. METHODS: We identified 52 women who was treated as inpatients for hyperemesis gravidarum and had delivered babies between Jan. 2001 and Oct. 2004. The control group was 123 women who had not suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum. We performed a retrospective analysis of obstetric and pediatric medical records. We analyzed the data using student's t-test and Chi-square test and p-value<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: The average height (162.5+/-0.6 vs. 160.6+/-0.4 cm, Mean+/-SE) was significantly higher in hyperemesis group. The average pre-pregnancy BMI (20.2+/-0.3 vs. 21.0+/-0.2 kg/m2) and maternal age (29.8+/-0.5 vs. 31.2+/-0.3 years) were significantly lower in hyperemesis group. The average weight loss was 2.6 kg and the average hospital stay was 5.4 days. The average concentration of serum electrolytes were within normal limits. The hematocrit (35.4+/-0.4 vs. 34.3+/-0.2%) and unconjugated estriol (1.336+/-0.055 vs. 1.126+/-0.034 MoM) were significantly higher in hyperemesis group. Vaginal bleeding during the first trimester was more common in hyperemesis group (16.4 vs. 4.7%). Pregnancy outcomes between hyperemesis and control group were similar in average gestational age, average birth weight, average Apgar scores, sex ratio, congenital malformation and neonatal morbidity. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with hyperemesis had significant differences in some demographic characteristics, hematocrit, unconjugated estriol and vaginal bleeding during the first trimester, but had similar pregnancy outcomes.

The differences of mid-trimester triple marker levels according to the occurrence time and severity of preeclampsia / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the differences of mid-trimester triple marker levels in patients with mild versus severe and early versus late onset preeclampsia. METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2004, a retrospective study of 65 women with preeclampsia for whom mid-trimester triple test data were available was made. None of these patients had diabetes, other medical disorders, multiple pregnancy, abnormal karyotype and malformations. Preeclampsia patients were grouped to "early onset" [<32 weeks of gestation (wks), n=17] and "late onset" (n=48), and also "mild" (who had delivered with no symptoms and lab findings of severe preeclampsia at term spontaneous labor or elective cesarean delivery, n=31) and "severe" (n=34). The levels of mid-trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and unconjugate estriol (MSuE3) in patients with early and late onset, mild and severe were compared. RESULTS: The each groups of comparison did not differ significantly with regard to age, weight, parity. The mean MSuE3 [0.92+/-0.09 (MoM+/-SE)] in patients with early onset was significantly lower than in patients with late onset preeclampsia (1.24 MoM, SE 0.07). In the comparison according to severity, the mean MSuE3 was significantly lower (0.98 MoM, SE 0.06 vs 1.28 MoM, SE 0.10, p=0.016) and the mean hCG was significantly higher (1.46 MoM, SE 0.12 vs 1.12 MoM, SE 0.07, p=0.015) in patients with severe preeclampsia than in those had mild preeclampsia symptoms at term delivery. CONCLUSION: Lower levels of mid-trimester MSuE3 and higher levels of hCG were associated with the severe preeclampsia rather than mild. Especially, lower levels of mid-trimester MSuE3 was also associated with early onset preeclampsia.

Clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of hyperemesis gravidarum / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: It is controversial that hyperemesis gravidarum has adverse effect on pregnancy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes in women with hyperemesis gravidarum. METHODS: We identified 52 women who was treated as inpatients for hyperemesis gravidarum and had delivered babies between Jan. 2001 and Oct. 2004. The control group was 123 women who had not suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum. We performed a retrospective analysis of obstetric and pediatric medical records. We analyzed the data using student's t-test and Chi-square test and p-value<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: The average height (162.5+/-0.6 vs. 160.6+/-0.4 cm, Mean+/-SE) was significantly higher in hyperemesis group. The average pre-pregnancy BMI (20.2+/-0.3 vs. 21.0+/-0.2 kg/m2) and maternal age (29.8+/-0.5 vs. 31.2+/-0.3 years) were significantly lower in hyperemesis group. The average weight loss was 2.6 kg and the average hospital stay was 5.4 days. The average concentration of serum electrolytes were within normal limits. The hematocrit (35.4+/-0.4 vs. 34.3+/-0.2%) and unconjugated estriol (1.336+/-0.055 vs. 1.126+/-0.034 MoM) were significantly higher in hyperemesis group. Vaginal bleeding during the first trimester was more common in hyperemesis group (16.4 vs. 4.7%). Pregnancy outcomes between hyperemesis and control group were similar in average gestational age, average birth weight, average Apgar scores, sex ratio, congenital malformation and neonatal morbidity. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with hyperemesis had significant differences in some demographic characteristics, hematocrit, unconjugated estriol and vaginal bleeding during the first trimester, but had similar pregnancy outcomes.

The differences of mid-trimester triple marker levels according to the occurrence time and severity of preeclampsia / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the differences of mid-trimester triple marker levels in patients with mild versus severe and early versus late onset preeclampsia. METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2004, a retrospective study of 65 women with preeclampsia for whom mid-trimester triple test data were available was made. None of these patients had diabetes, other medical disorders, multiple pregnancy, abnormal karyotype and malformations. Preeclampsia patients were grouped to "early onset" [<32 weeks of gestation (wks), n=17] and "late onset" (n=48), and also "mild" (who had delivered with no symptoms and lab findings of severe preeclampsia at term spontaneous labor or elective cesarean delivery, n=31) and "severe" (n=34). The levels of mid-trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and unconjugate estriol (MSuE3) in patients with early and late onset, mild and severe were compared. RESULTS: The each groups of comparison did not differ significantly with regard to age, weight, parity. The mean MSuE3 [0.92+/-0.09 (MoM+/-SE)] in patients with early onset was significantly lower than in patients with late onset preeclampsia (1.24 MoM, SE 0.07). In the comparison according to severity, the mean MSuE3 was significantly lower (0.98 MoM, SE 0.06 vs 1.28 MoM, SE 0.10, p=0.016) and the mean hCG was significantly higher (1.46 MoM, SE 0.12 vs 1.12 MoM, SE 0.07, p=0.015) in patients with severe preeclampsia than in those had mild preeclampsia symptoms at term delivery. CONCLUSION: Lower levels of mid-trimester MSuE3 and higher levels of hCG were associated with the severe preeclampsia rather than mild. Especially, lower levels of mid-trimester MSuE3 was also associated with early onset preeclampsia.

The role of angiotensin II to regulation of steroidogenic pathway in human ovarian follicle / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The exact mechanism of angiotensin II to steroidogenesis is still speculative in spite of many researches especially in human and these were performed indirectly with serum or follicular fluid. Under the hypothesis that ovarian RAS increases androgen, decreases progesterone synthesis in normal human ovary, we investigated the exact action of angiotnesin II on human ovary. METHODS: After appliance of angiotensin II and saralasin to the normal human ovarian follicles, we measured sex steroids like progesterone, testosterone, DHEA and enzymes like HSD3beta2, CYP 17 to see the action of angiotensin II and its antagonist, saralasin. The results were analyzed by ANOVA test. RESULTS: Angiotensin II increased androgen synthesis but did not affect progesterone synthesis. There were no difference of HSD 3beta2 mRNA expression in angiotensin II and saralasin group compared with control group. The expression of CYP17 mRNA was increased by angiotensin II but did not reach statistically significant level. CONCLUSION: Angiotensin II could increase androgen production probably via overexpression of CYP17, but had no efffect on progesterone production.