OBJECTIVE: Many cases of fertilization failure after ICSI is attributed to decondensation defect of sperm head, therefore, selection of sperm with well-condensed, fully-matured nucleus is critical for successful fertilization. During mammalian spermiogenesis, replacement of the somatic histones by protamines allows normal sperm nuclear condensation. The degree of condensation can be shown with the aid of acidic aniline blue staining, which is able to discriminate between lysine-rich histones and arginine- or cysteine-rich protamines. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible relation between nuclear maturity of human sperm and hypo-osmotic swelling patterns. Hypo-osmotic swelling test is very simple and convenient test to measure functional integrity of human sperm membrane, and each already tested sperms can be used for fertilization. METHODS: For assessment of sperm nuclear maturity, aniline blue staining was performed on the slides, already undergone hypo-osmotic swelling test in 5 subfertile patients with abnormal semen parameters and 8 fertile donors. After 3 hours swim-up, these procedures were repeated in each cases. RESULTS: Sperms with negative aniline blue were significantly increased after swim-up in each group. There was a significant increase in the proportion of negative aniline blue in sperms with swelling patterns(e+f+g) compared to sperms with non-swelling patterns(a), except swim-up group in subfertile patients. CONCLUSION: Choosing the swelling patterns, rather than non-swelling sperms after hypo-osmotic test may be beneficial for the selection of sperms with well-condensed, mature nucleus and intact membrane.
Fertilization ; Histones ; Humans ; Membranes ; Protamines ; Semen ; Sperm Head ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatozoa* ; Tissue Donors

No abstract available.
Blood Gas Analysis*

No abstract available.
Brain Abscess* ; Brain*

No abstract available.
Brain Abscess* ; Brain*

Adrenal cortical carcinoma is a rare disease both in adults and in children. Most of these tumors are functional, especially in children, producing endocrine syndromes such as virilization, Cushing syndrome, hyperaldosteronism or feminization. We experienced a case of adrenal cortical carcinoma in a 7yr old boy who showed features of virilization such as rapid growth rate, penile enlargement, and pubic hair. This case was diagnosed with typical hormonal findings and abdominal MRI and confirmed by pathologic findings. He was successfully treated by total left adrenalectomy and has been followed up without problem over eight months.
Adrenalectomy ; Adrenocortical Carcinoma* ; Adult ; Child ; Cushing Syndrome ; Feminization ; Hair ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Rare Diseases ; Virilism

No abstract available.
Psychosurgery*

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychological characteristics of the patients with bruxism by Minnesota Multiphase Personality Inventory(MMPI). METHODS: MMPI was administered to 87 patients(46 bruxism group and 41 control group) who had visited a local dental clinic from January to August 1998. RESULTS: The bruxism group had a higher score than control group in Masculinity-Femininity(Mf) scale. There were no differences between bruxism group and control group on the distribution of Depression(D), Psychopatic Deviate(Pd), Paranoia(Pa), Psychasthenia(Pt) scales. The bruxism group with the family history showed higher score than the bruxism group without family history in Pd scale. Male bruxism group had a higher score than female bruxism group in Defensiveness(K) scale and female bruxism group had higher score than male bruxism group in Pa scale. The bruxism group of clenching type had higher score than the bruxism group of mixed type in Social Introversion(Si) scale. There were no differences in MMPI score between those who had and did not have symptoms such as masticatory musle pain, neck pain and headache. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that individualized approach may be effective to the evaluation of psychological disturbances which might be related to sex, family history and, type of bruxism, while we did not find significant differences in personality charateristics between the bruxism and control groups.
Bruxism* ; Dental Clinics ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Male ; Minnesota ; MMPI* ; Neck Pain ; Weights and Measures

A number of recent reports have described the usefulness of the epidural injection of narcotics for the relief of postoperative pain. But the epidural use of narcotic agonist-antagonist, nalbuphine hydrochloride, has not been reported. To study the effect of epidural nalbuphine hydrochloride for postoperative pain relief, we divided 73 patients into 5 groups randomly: 3 mg nalbuphine hydrochloride in 10 ml saline (group 1, n=9); 4 mg nalbuphine hydrochloride in 10 ml saline (group 2, n=14); 5 mg nalbuphine hydrochloride in 10 ml saline (group 3, n=21); 3 mg morphine in 10 ml saline (group 4, n=16); 4 mg morphine in 10 ml saline (group 5, n=13). The results were as follows 1) The onset time of analgesic effect were average 15~20 minitues in all groups 2) The durations of analgesia of epidural nalbuphine groups were (average; 5~7 hours) significantly shorter than morphine groups (average; 31~32 hours). 3) The degree of analgesia were same between 5 groups 4) The complications were nausea, vomiting and pruritus in all groups, but the frequency of pruritus in morphine groups was more than nalbuphine groups (p<0.05). 5) Urinary retention was observed only in morphine groups. In conclusion, the result of our study suggests that nalbuphine hydrochloride be better agent than morphine in terms of complication for postoperative pain relief but the duration of action is shorter than morphine, when injected epidurally.
Analgesia ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Morphine ; Nalbuphine* ; Narcotics ; Nausea ; Pain, Postoperative* ; Pruritus ; Urinary Retention ; Vomiting

Histopathological diagnosis of brain stem glioma should be performed for the purpose of the determination of its management and clinical course, but its surgical biopsy has been followed by high mortality and morbidity. We performed the tissue sampling for histological examination with BRW stereotaxic system under local anesthesia successfully.
Anesthesia, Local ; Biopsy* ; Brain Stem* ; Brain* ; Diagnosis ; Glioma* ; Mortality

PURPOSE: Colon diverticula has continuously increased in Korea. This study is to identify the changes in the developmental patterns of colon diverticula and in the methods of treatment. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients who were diagnosed colon diverticular disease and hospitalized at Red Cross Hospital from April 1994 to March 2005 were enrolled. This retrospective assessment was performed by analyzing the hospital records of clinical characteristics such as demographics (age, sex), physical findings, distribution of diverticula, diagnosis methods, applicable treatments depending on severity and the stage of the disease, and complications and recurrences with whether the patient underwent a emergency or an elective operation. RESULTS: The median age was 51.8 years, with 37 males and 29 females. Of the 66 cases, right-side colon diverticula was found in 47 cases, and left side in 15 cases. Transverse and descending colon diverticula occurred concurrently in 2 cases, with 2 entire colon cases. The median number of diverticula per patient was 4.6. Of the 29 operation cases, a right colectomy was done in 10 along with 6 appendectomy and diverticulectomy cases. Postoperative complications occurred in 7 patients, of these 6 occurred in patients who had undergone an emergency operation, and 1 in a patients who had undergone an elective operation; 6 in right colon diverticular disease, and 1 in left color diverticular disease. CONCLUSIONS: Colon diverticular disease has increased with noticeable increases in left side and both-sides diseases. A one-stage operation is mainly performed for surgical treatment while fewer undergo a two-stage operation. Post-operative complications occurred in 7 cases. Exact preoperative diagnosis and an elective operation that allows bowel preparation are regarded as more crucial factors than the extension of the operation in decreasing the developmental rate and the severity of postoperative complications.
Appendectomy ; Colectomy ; Colon* ; Colon, Descending ; Demography ; Diagnosis ; Diverticulum ; Diverticulum, Colon ; Emergencies ; Female ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Red Cross ; Retrospective Studies