PURPOSE: The measurement of penile sensitivity is a noninvasive and economical screening method to detect various neurologic disorders including premature ejaculation. We measured the normal range of penile sensitivity using a conventional analogue vibrometer and a new type of digital vibrometer and compared the clinical utility of the two instruments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The vibration threshold of 50 males who had normal erectile function and ejaculation was measured 3 times with both an analogue and a digital vibrometer. The sites of measurement included the plantar side of the 2nd finger, a distal site on the calf, the penile shaft, and glans. The confidence interval was analyzed by the Kernel density estimation method. RESULTS: The ranges measured by the digital vibrometer were narrower than those measured by the analogue instrument. The normal ranges in the 90% confidence interval by the digital vibrometer were 1.03~.16, 2.49~10.13, 1.54~3.41, 1.61~3.53, 1.91~3.80, 1.55~4.03 Hz/mv in finger tip, calf, right penile shaft, left penile shaft, right glans penis, and left glans penis, respectively. The normal ranges in the 95% confidence interval by digital vibrometer were 1.07~2.15, 3.23~9.50, 1.58~3.33, 1.65~3.48, 1.93~3.38, 1.83~3.73 Hz/mv in finger tip, calf, right penile shaft, left penile shaft, right glans penis, and left glans penis, respectively. The results from the digital vibrometer were more consistent than those by the analogue vibrometer. CONCLUSIONS: The digital vibrometer, MMD-1000A(R) can substitute for the analogue type and has the advantages of greater convenience and more precise measurement of penile sensitivity.
Ejaculation ; Fingers ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Nervous System Diseases ; Penis ; Premature Ejaculation ; Reference Values ; Vibration

PURPOSE: Late-onset hypogonadism(LOH) in the aging male is a clinical and biochemical syndrome characterized by a decline in levels of serum testosterone, and results in various physical and mental disabilities. We aim to evaluate the relationship between serum testostosterone levels and symtpoms of LOH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As part of an andropause screening program, we examined ADAM questionnaires, IIEF-5 scores, and total serum testosterone levels among healthy volunteers aged over 40 years. RESULTS: The mean age of the 409 men was 59.8 years(range 40~89), and the mean serum testosterone level was 471.5+/-180.2 ng/dl. The serum testosterone level decreased significantly in correlation with age. There was a 92.5% positive response on the ADAM questionnaire. Among patients whose serum testosterone was less than 350 ng/dl, the ADAM questionnaire was positive in 23.7%(n=97). The mean serum testosterone level for men with a positive or negative ADAM questionnaire was 469.2+/-181.8 or 489.2+/-170.5 ng/dl, respectively; this difference was not statistically significant (p=xxx). There was also no significant correlation between IIEF-5 scores and serum testosterone levels. CONCLUSIONS: Among men over 40 years of age, 23.7% met the clinical and biochemical diagnostic criteria for late-onset hypogonadism, and there was no relationship between serum testosterone levels and symptoms of late-onset hypogonadism.
Aging* ; Andropause ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Hypogonadism* ; Male* ; Mass Screening ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Testosterone*

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for developing hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. Various diagnostic methods and criteria of obesity have been developed. The predictive values of health risk factors(hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and body fatness) were different for cardiovascular diseases. We reviewed the medical records to assess the relation of health risk factors to waist-hip ratio(WHR) and body mass index (BMI). METHODS: We gathered 5100 cases who have taken medical examination from March 1995 to February 1996 at Ajou University Hospital and measured BMI, WHR, body fat, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar etc.. Except 1350 abnormal cases on current illness and laboratory study, 3750 healthy cases were analysed. First we divided the healthy cases into obese and non-obese group according to BMI 25kg/m2 in men and women. And then, the obese and non-obese group was divided into central and non-central obese type by WHR 0.8 in women and 0.9 in men. RESULTS: Except only diastolic blood pressure in male, other lab data such as body fat, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar in male and female were significantly different between the two groups divided by WHR in BMI<25kg/m2. But in BMI)25kg/m2, men had higher(P<0.01) triglyceride at WHR>_0.9. Women had higher(P<0.05) triglyceride, systolic and diastolic blood pressure at WHR>_0.8. CONCLUSIONS: We thought that the increase of WHR was risk factor for hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus in men and women when BMI was less than 25kg/m2. In obese group(BMI>_225kg/m2), increase of WHR was risk factor for hyperlipidemia in men and hyperlipidemia and hypertension in women.
Adipose Tissue* ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure* ; Body Mass Index* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Male ; Medical Records ; Obesity ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides ; Waist-Hip Ratio*

Biodegradable barrier membrane has been demonstrated to have guided bone regeneration capacity on the animal study. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of cultured calvarial cell inoculated on the biodegradable barrier membrane for the regeneration of the artificial bone defect. In this experiment 35 Sprague-Dawley male rats(mean BW 150gm) were used. 30 rats were divided into 3 groups. In group I, defects were covered periosteum without membrane. In group II, defects were repaired using biodegradable barrier membrane. In group III, the defects were repaired using biodegradable barrier membrane seeded with cultured calvarial cell. Every surgical procedure were performed under the general anesthesia by using with intravenous injection of Pentobarbital sodium(30mg/Kg). After anesthesia, 5 rats were sacrificed by decapitation to obtain the calvaria for bone cell culture. Calvarial cells were cultured with Dulbecco's Modified Essential Medium contained with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum under the conventional conditions. The number of cell inoculated on the membrane were 1x10(6) Cells/ml. The membrane were inserted on the artificial bone defect after 3 days of culture. A single 3-mm diameter full-thickness artificial calvarial defect was made in each animal by using with bone trephine drill. After the every surgical intervention of animal, all of the animals were sacrificed at 1, 2, 3 weeks after surgery by using of perfusion technique. For obtaining histological section, tissues were fixed in 2.5% Glutaraldehyde (0.1M cacodylate buffer, pH 7.2) and Karnovsky's fixative solution, and decalcified with 0.1M disodium ethylene diaminetetraacetate for 3 weeks. Tissue embeding was performed in paraffin and cut parallel to the surface of calvaria. Section in 7micrometer thickness of tissue was done and stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin. All the specimens were observed under the light microscopy. The following results were obtained. 1. During the whole period of experiment, fibrous connective tissue was revealed at 1week after surgery which meant rapid soft tissue recovery. The healing rate of defected area into new bone formation of the test group was observed more rapid tendency than other two groups. 2. The sequence of healing rate of bone defected area was as follows; test group, positive control, negative control group. 3. During the experiment, an osteoclastic cell around preexisted bone was not found. New bone formation
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Bone Regeneration* ; Cacodylic Acid ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Connective Tissue ; Decapitation ; Glutaral ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Membranes* ; Microscopy ; Osteoclasts ; Osteogenesis ; Paraffin ; Pentobarbital ; Perfusion ; Periosteum ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Regeneration ; Skull

BACKGROUND: Many inflammatory mediators, including various cytokines (e.g. interleukins and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]), inflammatory proteases, and histamine are released following mast cell activation. However, the endogenous modulators for mast cell activation and the underlying mechanism have yet to be elucidated. Endogenous cannabinoids such as palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide or AEA), were found in peripheral tissues and have been proposed to possess autacoid activity, implying that cannabinoids may downregulate mast cell activation and local inflammation. OBJECTIVE: In order to investigate the effect of cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1R) agonists on mast cell activation, AEA-derived compounds were newly synthesized and evaluated for their effect on mast cell activation. METHODS: The effects of selected compounds on FcepsilonRI-induced histamine and beta-hexosaminidase release were evaluated in a rat basophilic leukemia cell line (RBL-2H3). To further investigate the inhibitory effects of CB1R agonist in vivo, an oxazolone-induced atopic dermatitis mouse model was exploited. RESULTS: We found that CB1R inhibited the release of inflammatory mediators without causing cytotoxicity in RBL-2H3 cells and that CB1R agonists markedly and dose-dependently suppressed mast cell proliferation indicating that CB1R plays an important role in modulating antigen-dependent immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated mast cell activation. We also found that topical application of CB1R agonists suppressed the recruitment of mast cells into the skin and reduced the level of blood histamine. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that CB1R agonists down-regulate mast cell activation and may be used for relieving inflammatory symptoms mediated by mast cell activation, such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and contact dermatitis.
Animals ; Basophils ; beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases ; Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists ; Cannabinoids ; Cell Line ; Cytokines ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Histamine ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Inflammation ; Interleukins ; Leukemia ; Mast Cells* ; Mice ; Peptide Hydrolases ; Psoriasis ; Rats ; Skin ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha