To determine the concentration and the physiologic role of metal components in blood plasma and seminal plasma in relation to male infertility, the concentrations of twelve metal components in blood plasma and seminal plasma including Na, Mg, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Cd and Pb were measured by atomic absorbance spectrophotometery or ion selective electrode analysis. Semen and blood samples were obtained from a total of 110 men including 70 male infertility patients, 20 vasectomized persons and 20 fertility proven volunteers visited to the Male Infertility Clinic of Pusan National University Hospital. The concentrations of Ca, Zn, Mg, Cr and Cd in control group were higher in seminal plasma than in blood plasma, and additionally Pb were higher in infertility group. The concentrations of all metal components revealed no significant difference according to patients' age, resident, occupation, sperm density, motility and hormone level in blood plasma, but some metal components including Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn, Cd and Pb revealed a significant difference according to each these parameters except patient's age in seminal plasma. The concentrations of Mn, Cd and Pb in the vasectomy persons were higher than in the infertility group III including testicular and epididymal factors, but not in blood plasma. We conclude that the quantitative changes of metal components in the seminal plasma may have effects on not only spermatogenesis and sperm function, but also contribute to diagnostic parameter according to organ specificity of the metal in the male reproduction.
Busan ; Electrodes ; Fertility ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male ; Male* ; Occupations ; Organ Specificity ; Plasma ; Reproduction ; Semen* ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatozoa ; Vasectomy ; Volunteers

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Parotid Gland*

Schwannomas are neurogenic tumors that arise from Schwann cells of the neural sheath. They are most often benign and solitary. Ancient schwannoma is a rare variant of schwannoma with a typical characteristics of a slow growing benign tumor. A case of ancient schwannoma which originated from the lingual nerve has not been reported in the literature yet. The clinical and histological aspects of this tumor are discussed and the literature regarding this rare entity is reviewed.
Lingual Nerve* ; Neurilemmoma* ; Schwann Cells

Two cases of ureteral fibrous polyp showing serpiginous filling defect on IVP are presented with characteristic radiologic features; easy flow of contrast medium around polyp. Prolapsed polyp in urinary bladder, and less ureteral obstruction or renal damage than in epithelial lesions. These rediologic findings enable to differentiation of ureteral fibrous polyps from malignant tumor, which is helpful for determining therapeutic approach.
Polyps* ; Ureter* ; Ureteral Obstruction ; Urinary Bladder

PURPOSE: The differentiation between renal cell carcinoma(RCC) and transitional cell carcinoma(TCC) is important due to the different methods of treatment and prognosis. But occasionally it is difficult to draw a distinction between the two diseases when renal parenchyme and renal collecting systems are invaded simultaneously. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We reviewed CT scans of 37 cases of renal cell carcinoma and 12 cases of transitional cell carcinoma which showed involvement of renal parenchyma and renal sinus fat on CT. Retrospective analysis was performed by 3 abdominal radiologists. Check points were renalcontour bulging or reniform shape, location of mass center, intact parenchyme overlying the tumor, cystic change, calcification, LN metastasis, vessel invasion, and perirenal extention. RESULT:There were renal contour bulging due to the tumor mass in 33 out of 37 cases of renal cellcarcinima, wherea and nine of 12 cases of transitional cell carcinoma maintained the reniform appearance. This is significant statiscal difference between the two(p<0.005). Center of all TCCs were located in the renal sinus, and 24 out of 35 cases of RCC were located in the cortex(p<0.005). Thirty-six out of 37 cases of RCC lost the overlying parenchyma, whereas 4 out of 9 cases of well enhanced TCC had intact overlying parenchyma(p<0.005) RCC showed uptic change within the tumor mags in 31 cases which was significanity higher than the 4 cases in TCC(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: CT findings of renal cell carcinoma are contour bulging, peripheral location, obliteration of parenchyma, and cystic change. Findings of transitional cell carcinoma are reniform appearance, central location within the kidney, intact overlying parenchyma, and rare cystic change.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Kidney ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pelvis* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Photodynamic therapy(PDT) is a treatment modality by highly reactive oxygen intermediates generated through the interaction of light with a photosensiziter. It has been shown to be an effective treatment for various cutaneous and noncutaneous malignancies. It is efficient for the curative and palliative treatment of epithelial skin tumor in situ or early invasive lesions. In effect, it is a useful alternative treatment for the lesions located on anatomically difficult areas or the large-sized lesions. We treated a case of Bowen's disease arising on the plantar area and 3rd and 4th toewebs of left forefoot in a 61-year-old man with PDT using the hematoporphyrin derivative, porfirmer sodium(Photofrin, Russia) as a photosensitizer and gold vapor laser as a visible light source. The outcome showed partial clinical improvement after about 2 months' follow-up.
Bowen's Disease* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoporphyrin Derivative ; Humans ; Lasers, Gas ; Light ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen ; Palliative Care ; Photochemotherapy* ; Skin

PURPOSE: To evaluate the pattern of distant lymph node metastasis in colorectal carcinoma and its correlation with distant organ metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed abdominal CT scans of 46 patients with pathologically proven colorectal carcinoma. RESULTS: The incidence of distant lymphadenopathy in colorectal carcinoma was 30.4%(14/46). The most commonly involved distant lymph node was the left paraortic lymph node below the renal hilum(9/25). The most common type of distant lymphadenopathy was solitary type(7/14) and all of these lymphadenopathies were noted in the left paraortic lymph node below the renal hilum. Six cases of left sided colorectal carcinoma showed left paraortic lymphadenopathy with solitary type. The incidence of distant organ metastasis was 17. 4%(8/46) and markedly increased if distant lymphadenopathy was multiple and confluent, or confluent type(5/7). CONCLUSION: The incidence of distant lymphadenopathy in colorectal carcinoma was not high and the most common lymphadenopathy was the left paraaortic lymph node with solitary type below the renal hilum. The possibility of distant organ metastasis was high if distant lymphadenopathy was multiple and confluent, or confluent type.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Testicular biopsy to have been utilized as a diagnostic tool in male infertility were underwent experimentally to observe the effects on the morphology and the physiology of post-biopsied testis of 17 male rabbits. Bilateral orchiectomy was done at third day, 1st week, 2nd week and 4th week after open testicular biopsy, and biopsied testes were compared with contralateral control in histopathological views. The results were summarized as follows : 1. In seminiferous tubules of sham-operated tests, there was no significant pathologic changes. 2. The inflammatory reaction was most severe at third day after biopsy and completely disappeared at 4th week. 3. Increased thickness of tunica albuginea and fibrotic reaction were observed near the biopsy site. 4. Spermatogenesis did not only decrease near the biopsy site with atrophy of the seminiferous tubules but also mildly decreased on the far area, that all began to recover at 4th week. 5. No evidence of immunologic reaction and hyperplasia of Leydig cell were demonstrated. It was suggested that testicular injury after biopsy was developed by interference of local blood flow, obstruction of seminiferous tubules and inflammatory reaction, so that could be minimized by application of open testicular biopsy only to definitively indicated cases.
Atrophy ; Biopsy* ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Physiology ; Rabbits ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis*

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy of intravaginal misoprostol versus oral dinoprostone for labor induction at term. METHODS: One hundred of patients at term were randomized to receive either 50microgram of misoprostol vaginally every 4 hours or dinoprostone 0.5mg orally every 1 hour for the maximum of six doses. Intravenous infusion of oxytocin was administered under such circumferences as the patient did not go into active labor after maximum dose, SROM was developed without an adequate contraction pattern, or the patient had arrest of dilatation(no change in cervical dilatation for 2 hours). We compared the frequency of oxytocin augmentation, administration to delivery interval, vaginal delivery rate within 12 hours and 24 hours, intrapartum complications, induction failure, mode of delivery, neonatal outcomes, and maternal complications between two groups. RESULTS: The average interval from administration to delivery was shorter in the misoprostol group(739.4+/-372.4min vs 1087.7+/-765.1min, p<0.05), but the interval from administration to vaginal delivery of each group was similar(724.3+/-375.4min vs 800.3+/-697.0min). Regarding the frequency of vaginal delivery within 24 hours, however, misoprostol group was higher than dinoprostone group(88% vs 56%, p<0.001). And oxytocin augmentation of labor occurred less commonly in misoprostol group than in dinoprostone group(20% vs 76%, p<0.05). Any statistically significant difference in intrapartum complications, mode of delivery, and neonatal or maternal adverse outcome was not appeared between these two group. CONCLUSION: Vaginal misoprostol is as effective and safe as oral dinoprostone for cervical ripening and induction of labor at term. In addition, vaginal misoprostol contributes the curtailment of labor induction expenditure due to its moderate price; misoprostol costs 100 won per 50microgram.
Cervical Ripening ; Dinoprostone* ; Female ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Labor Stage, First ; Misoprostol* ; Oxytocin ; Pregnancy

We describe a 16-year-old female with Nevus comedonicus(NC) that has been developed since birth. The lesions had a unilateral, linear or zosteriform distribution on the left lower leg and posterior thigh, and were well closely arranged, slightly depressed papules that had dark firm plugs resembling comedones in their centers. In the meantime, recurrent infections with fistula, abscess and residual scars had been complicated. Histopathologic features showed deep invagination of epidermis and dilated follicular orifices filled with keratin plugs in the centers of papules.
Abscess ; Adolescent ; Cicatrix ; Epidermis ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Nevus* ; Parturition ; Thigh