Kun Woo Kim

Measurement of Placental Alpha- Microglobulin-1 in Cervicovaginal Discharge to Diagnose Rupture of Membranes

OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy of an immunoassay to measure levels of placental alpha-microglobulin-1 in cervicovaginal secretions with that of conventional clinical assessment for the diagnosis of rupture of membranes. METHODS: A prospective observational study was performed in consecutive patients with signs or symptoms of rupture of membranes at Seoul National University Hospital from March 2005 to February 2006. Initial evaluation included both the standard clinical evaluation for rupture of membranes and placental alpha-microglobulin-1 immunoassay. Rupture of membranes was diagnosed if fluid was seen leaking from the cervical os or if two of the following three conditions were present: pooling of fluid, positive nitrazine test, or ferning. Rupture of membranes was diagnosed definitively on review of the medical records after delivery. RESULTS: Of 184 patients (11–42 weeks of gestation), rupture of membranes was diagnosed at initial presentation in 76% (139 of 184) using conventional clinical assessment and 88% (161 of 184) using placental alpha-microglobulin-1 immunoassay. Follow-up confirmed that a total of 159 of 183 patients (87%) had rupture of membranes at their initial presentations. Using this longitudinal assessment as the clinical gold standard, placental alpha-microglobulin-1 immunoassay confirmed rupture of membranes at initial presentation with a sensitivity of 98.7% (157 of 159), specificity of 87.5% (21 of 24), positive predictive value of 98.1% (157 of 160), and negative predictive value of 91.3% (21 of 23). Placental alpha-microglobulin-1 immunoassay was better than both the conventional clinical assessment and the nitrazine test alone in confirming the diagnosis of rupture of membranes. CONCLUSION: Measurement of placental alpha-microglobulin-1 in cervicovaginal secretions is superior to conventional clinical assessment in the diagnosis of rupture of membranes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II

Far-infrared transmission studies of a c -axis-oriented superconducting MgB 2 thin film

We have reported far-infrared transmission measurements on a c-axis-oriented superconducting

Third-generation cephalosporin resistance of community-onset Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia in a secondary hospital

{\mathrm{MgB}}_{2}

Complicated nature of the gap in MgB 2 : Magnetic-field-dependent optical studies

thin film in the frequency range

Predictors of Revisit and Admission after Discharge from an Emergency Department in Acute Pyelonephritis

30\char21{}250 {\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}.

A rapid matrix metalloproteinase-8 bedside test for the detection of intraamniotic inflammation in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes.

We found that these measurements were sensitive to the scattering rate

Differences in phenotypic and genotypic traits against antimicrobial agents between Acinetobacter baumannii and Acinetobacter genomic species 13TU

1/\ensuremath{\tau}

Effect of disorder on various physical properties of Co2CrAl Heusler alloy films: Experiment and theory

and the superconducting gap 2\ensuremath{\Delta}. By fitting the experimental transmission spectra at 40 K and below, we obtained

The diagnostic and prognostic value of MMP-8 PTD check in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes

1/\ensuremath{\tau}

Huge Aortic False Aneurysm in a Patient with Undifferentiated Spondyloarthropathy

and