No abstract available.
Arthrogryposis* ; Humans ; Twins, Monozygotic*

OBJECTIVES: It is widely accepted that estrogen has favorable effects on cardiovascular diseases, especially in the postmenopausal women. Endothelin-1(ET-I), released from the vascular endothelium, is a 21-amino acid peptide with strong vasoconstrictor activity. However, the effect of estrogen on the vasoconstriction to ET-1 has not been extensively studied. METHODS: To investigate the effect of estrogen (175beta-estradiol) on the vascular contraction to ET-1, porcine coronary artery(PCA) rings were suspended in organ chambers(37 degrees C, 95% O2/5% CO2) for measurement of isometric tension change. Endothelium was removed mechanically if necessary. In acute experiments, vascular rings were preincubated for 15minutes with 3different concentrations of 170beta-estradiol(10(-6), 10(-5), 10(-4)M) and concentration-contraction curves to cumulative doses of ET-1 were constructed. In the experiments after a longer exposure to 17beta-estradiol, the vessels with endothelium were exposed in the 5% CO2 incubator to 3different concentrations of 17beta-estradiol(10(-9), 10(-8), 10(-7)M) for 44-50 hours, and then concentrationcontraction curves to ET-1 were obtained. RESULTS: Incubation for 15minutes with 170beta-estradiol(10(-4)M) inhibited ET-1-induced contraction in the vessels with endothelium(area under the curve and maximal contraction, p<0.05 compared with control). This effect persisted regardless of the sex and the presence or absence of the endotheliurn. Incubation of the vessels far a longer time with 170beta-estradiol(44-50 hours) resulted in the inhibition of maximal contraction to ET-1(p<0.05) by a lower concentration of 175beta-estradiol(10(-7)M) than in acute experiments in male PCA rings, but an enhanced contraction to ET-1(area under the curve; p<0.05) by 10M of 175beta-estradiol was observed in female PCA rings. CONCLUSION: Short-time incubation with 17Pbeta-estradiol has an inhibitory effect on the contraction to ET-1 in PCA rings. This effect is independent of the presence of the endothelium and the sex of the pigs. A longer incubation with 17beta-estradiol results in a similar inhibitory effect on male(but not female) PCA rings, suggesting that a sex-related difference may exist concerning the effect of 17beta-estradiol on ET-1-induced contraction.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Coronary Vessels* ; Endothelin-1* ; Endothelins ; Endothelium ; Endothelium, Vascular ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Incubators ; Male ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Swine ; Vasoconstriction

Treatments for restoring the function and esthetics of missing teeth include fixed bridge, partial denture, orthodontic movement, implantation and autotransplantation. However, there is no absolute indications for each techniques. Due to undevelopment of root and root resorption after autotransplantation, the success rate of autotrans-plantation over the past decades have been low. Recently. with the study on biological principles of the healing of periodontal ligament, the success rate of autotransplantation began to improve. We report the cases of successful autotransplantation which resulted in ideal healing of periodontal ligament, gingiva and alveolar bone.
Autografts* ; Denture, Partial ; Denture, Partial, Fixed ; Esthetics ; Gingiva ; Periodontal Ligament ; Root Resorption ; Tooth*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of testosterone replacement treatment (TRT) in testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) patients with metabolic syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the data of 200 men who were diagnosed with TDS and were undergoing TRT between August 2006 and August 2009. The 200 patients were divided into two groups (group 1: 71 patients with metabolic syndrome, group 2: 129 patients without metabolic syndrome) depending on metabolic syndrome, which was diagnosed according to the NCEP III criteria for Asians. Age, BMI (body mass index), waist circumference, serologic tests, AMS (the Aging Males' Symptoms scale), and IIEF (International Index of Erectile Function) were measured. RESULTS: In group 1, waist circumference and fasting glucose were significantly decreased; hemoglobin and total testosterone were increased; and the somatovegetative scale score of the AMS, the total AMS score, the erectile function score of the IIEF, the overall satisfaction score of the IIEF, and the total IIEF score were significantly improved after TRT. On the other hand, in group 2, waist circumference, BMI, total cholesterol, LDL, and fasting glucose were significantly decreased; hemoglobin and total testosterone were increased; and the 2 subscale scores of the AMS (psychologic and somatovegetative), the total AMS score, all subscale scores of the IIEF, and the total IIEF score were significantly improved after TRT. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the patients who had TDS with metabolic syndrome showed less improvement in AMS, IIEF, and serum variables. Therefore, the correction of metabolic syndrome, such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, should be considered during TRT.
Aging ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Hand ; Hemoglobins ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X ; Obesity ; Serologic Tests ; Sorbitol ; Testosterone ; Tyramine ; Waist Circumference

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of testosterone replacement treatment (TRT) in testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) patients with metabolic syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the data of 200 men who were diagnosed with TDS and were undergoing TRT between August 2006 and August 2009. The 200 patients were divided into two groups (group 1: 71 patients with metabolic syndrome, group 2: 129 patients without metabolic syndrome) depending on metabolic syndrome, which was diagnosed according to the NCEP III criteria for Asians. Age, BMI (body mass index), waist circumference, serologic tests, AMS (the Aging Males' Symptoms scale), and IIEF (International Index of Erectile Function) were measured. RESULTS: In group 1, waist circumference and fasting glucose were significantly decreased; hemoglobin and total testosterone were increased; and the somatovegetative scale score of the AMS, the total AMS score, the erectile function score of the IIEF, the overall satisfaction score of the IIEF, and the total IIEF score were significantly improved after TRT. On the other hand, in group 2, waist circumference, BMI, total cholesterol, LDL, and fasting glucose were significantly decreased; hemoglobin and total testosterone were increased; and the 2 subscale scores of the AMS (psychologic and somatovegetative), the total AMS score, all subscale scores of the IIEF, and the total IIEF score were significantly improved after TRT. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the patients who had TDS with metabolic syndrome showed less improvement in AMS, IIEF, and serum variables. Therefore, the correction of metabolic syndrome, such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, should be considered during TRT.
Aging ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Hand ; Hemoglobins ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X ; Obesity ; Serologic Tests ; Sorbitol ; Testosterone ; Tyramine ; Waist Circumference

Adenosine is a short-acting coronary vasodilator, and it is widely used during pharmacological stress myocardial perfusion imaging. It has a well-established safety profile, and most of its side effects are known to be mild and transient. Until now, coronary vasospasm has been rarely reported as a side effect of adenosine during or after adenosine stress test. This study reports a case of coronary vasospasm which was documented on stress myocardial perfusion CT imaging during adenosine stress test.
Adenosine/*adverse effects/metabolism ; Aged ; Coronary Vasospasm/*chemically induced/pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging/*methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods ; Vasodilator Agents/*adverse effects/metabolism

We present a case of an unusual infectious complication of a ruptured mediastinal abscess after endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA), which led to malignant pleural effusion in a patient with stage IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer. EBUS-TBNA was performed in a 48-year-old previously healthy male, and a mediastinal abscess developed at 4 days post-procedure. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed for debridement and drainage, and the intraoperative findings revealed a large volume pleural effusion that was not detected on the initial radiographic evaluation. Malignant cells were unexpectedly detected in the aspirated pleural fluid, which was possibly due to increased pleural permeability and transport of malignant cells originating in a ruptured subcarinal lymph node from the mediastinum to the pleural space. Hence, the patient was confirmed to have squamous cell lung carcinoma with malignant pleural effusion and his TNM staging was changed from stage IIIA to IV.
Abscess* ; Debridement ; Drainage ; Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymph Nodes* ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Middle Aged ; Needles* ; Neoplasm Staging ; Permeability ; Pleural Effusion ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant* ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the positive or negative effect of delaying embryo transfer(ET) one day in IVF-ET. METHODS: From May to July, 1997, a total of 64 patients was emolled in this prospective randomized case-controlled study. When the timing of oocyte retrieval was decided, random allocation of patients was made to one of the two groups: day 2 transfer or day 3 transfer. In day 3 transfer group, embryos were cultured in M3 media(Medi-Cult) for further 24 hours. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age of patients, infertility factor, basal serum FSH level, and serum E2 level on hCG day between two poups, but number of previous IVF-ET cycles was significantly higher in day 3 transfer group(p 0.042). Number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, and number of embryos transferred had no significant difference, but cumulative embryo score(CES) was significantly higher in day 3 transfer group(p 0.0001). Clinical pregnancy and implantation rates were bigher in day 3 transfer group, but without significance(34.4% vs. 21.9%; 8.7% vs, 5.4%). There were also no significant differences in spontaneous miscarriage and multiple pregnancy rates. Especially in patients over 35 years of age, clinical pregnancy and implantation rates were more higher in day 3 transfer group, but without significance(41.7% vs, 8.3%; 8.5% vs. 1.6%). CONCLUSION: Considering the higher number of previous cycles in day 3 transfer group, it is at least likely that delaying ET one day may be clinically beneficial in IVF-ET, especially in patients with old age or repeated failure of previous cycles.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Case-Control Studies ; Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Humans ; Infertility ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Prospective Studies ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the intluence of previous tuberculous epididymitis in infertile males with obstructive azoospermia on the outcome of sperm retrieval and intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI) in IVF-ET propam. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was paformed in 26 patients with obstructive azoospermia undergoing sperm retrieval and ICSI at Seoul National University Hospital from January, 1996 to August, 1997; 12 cycles in 5 patients with tuberculous obstructive azoospermia(Group A), and 40 cycles in 21 patients with non-tuberculous obstructive azoospermia(Group B). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the clinical pregnancy rate(PR) per fresh transfer between Groups A and B(20.0%[2/10] vs. 26.8%(11/41)). The rates of embryo implantation and clinical miscarriage were also comparable in both groups(6.3% vs. 11.1%, 50.0% vs. 9.1%). This tendencies were also similar after including five cryopreserved-thawed transfer cycles. CONCLUSION: Embryo quality and pregnancy outcome in sperm retrieval and ICSI were comparable in both the tuberculous and non-tuberculous obstructive azoospermia patients. Our results suggest that previous history of tuberculous epididymitis in patients with obstructive azoospermia does not affect the outcome of sperm retrieval and ICSI.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Azoospermia* ; Embryo Implantation ; Embryonic Structures ; Epididymitis* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic* ; Sperm Retrieval* ; Spermatozoa*

Sarcoma is rare malignant tumor originated from mesenchymal stem cells that can differentiate to soft tissue and bone. Therefore sarcoma can be arised from any regions in human body. However, the incidence of bile duct sarcoma is extremely rare in adults. Obstructive jaundice is the most common presentation in the patients, but there're no specific symptoms or signs. Also it can be misdiagnosed with other tumors or benign lesions in computed tomography or ultrasonography. For these reasons, it is hard to diagnose and manage. We present a case of intrahepatic bile duct sarcoma misdiagnosed with liver abscess in 70 year-old female with literature review.
Adult ; Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic* ; Female ; Human Body ; Humans ; Incidence ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Liver Abscess* ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Sarcoma* ; Ultrasonography