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

Achilles tendon is the most powerful and the biggest tendon of the body and its rupture is frequently sports-related. Many authors reported the effects of mobilization, electricity, ultrasound and various drugs as factors influencing the injured tendon. We studied the effects of early passive mobilization after firm suture using plantaris tendon as tension suture material and reinforcing membrane on the repair of a ruptured Achilles tendon. From March 1992 to December 1995, twenty-two operations on the Achilles tendon were carried out in our hospital. 1. Fourteen patients were male and eight patients were female. The mean patient age was 38 years, ranging from 13 to 68 years. Average follow-up periods was 2 years and 7 months, ranging from 12 months to 3 years and 8 months. 2. The rupture site was 4.7cm proximal to the tendon insertion into the calcaneus on average. 3. We performed the operations with end to end suture technique. After approximation of the ruptured ends of the tendon with a No. 5 Ethibond tension suture using a modified Kessler stitch, placed plantaris tendon in a fascial needle and pass it circumferentially and distal plantaris tendon is fanned out and tacked over the repair. 4. Postoperative treatment was done as following protocol Short leg cast was done with equinus position for initial 3 weeks, and then cast was removed, hydrotherapy and passive exercises was employed. About 6 weeks after operation when the foot can be brought to right angle, a reverse 90degrees ankle stop short leg brace was applied for additional 6 weeks and partial weight bearing was aUowed. 5. Follow-up results were classified according to the Arner-Lindholm scale. We had 16 excellent results and 6 satisfactory results. After rigid suture it may be possible to introduce a regimen of progressive isometric stimulation and protected loading and streching combined with removable orthosis. Such early exercises are likely to improve the rate of rehabilitation over plaster immobilization.
Achilles Tendon* ; Ankle ; Braces ; Calcaneus ; Electricity ; Exercise ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Humans ; Hydrotherapy ; Immobilization ; Leg ; Male ; Membranes ; Needles ; Orthotic Devices ; Rehabilitation ; Rupture* ; Suture Techniques ; Sutures ; Tendons ; Ultrasonography ; Weight-Bearing

No abstract available.
Splenectomy*

No abstract available.
Vaccination*

No abstract available.
Funnel Chest*

To evaluate the efficacy and the complication rates of the ilioinguinal approach for satisfactory reduction in complex acetabular fracture except for poserior wall or column fractures, twenty consecutive patients undergoing ilioinguinal approach for open reduction with internal fixation of acute, displaced fracture(3/89-10/93) were reviewed. There were six elementary and fourteen associated fracture patterns. Two among them were open fractures. Fifteen were male and five female with a mean age of forty-four years. three patients those associated with a comminuted quadrilateral plate required to buttress the medial wall with a spring plate modified from a one-third tubular plate as a part of reconstruction plates assembly. Indirect reduction of the involved and opposite column was achieved mainly with lateral traction through the great trochanter. Two patients with associated fracture pattern needed to undergo combined anterior and posterior approach. A satisfactory reduction(concentric, gap < 3mm, step-off < 2mm) was obtained 85% of the cases. There were four kinds of perioperative complications: transient sciatic nerve palsy(one after double incision), hematoma(one), loss of fixation(one), lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh injury(two). There were no infections and functionally significant heterotropic ossification. In conclusion, the morbidity of an extended surgical approach previously recommended for complex acetabular fractures can be avoided.
Acetabulum ; Female ; Femur ; Fractures, Open ; Humans ; Male ; Sciatic Nerve ; Thigh ; Traction

No abstract available.
Ligaments*

The elbow is the most frequent area of complaint in children and adolescent baseball players. The physical stresses associated with repetitive throwing create extra-ordinary forces, which may affect the normal osteochondral and soft tissue developmental process and are the important factors causing the decrease of competitive power and shortening of life as a baseball player in adolescents. We surveyed the 114 baseball players of middle & high school in Taegu in order to evaluate the prevalance of symptoms and radiologic findings of the elbow and correlation of these findings to career & position of the baseball game. The results were as follows. 1. Of 114 players, 83 were non-pitchers and 31 were pitchers. The mean career was 3.8 years (7 months to 6 years). 2. The 77 players (67.7%) had the pain on their elbow during or after daily exercise. Other clinical symptoms were locking (30.7%), limitation of motion (18.4%), swelling (16.6%) and clicks on motion (10.5%). 3. On the radiogram of the elbow, hypertrophy or separation of medial epicondyle were seen in 34% of players, loose bodies in 17%, hypertrophy of the humerus in 12% and cystic change of the capitellum in 11%. 4. The mean career of symptomatic players was 4.4 years but non-symptomatics was 2.7 years. The mean career of players who had abnormal radiologic findings was 5.1 years but 3.1 years in players who had no abnormal radiologic fingings. 5. Symptoms and pathologic changes were more common in the elbow of pitcher' s group due to throwing frequency & pitching style. 6. Among the 77 players who had any kinds of problem of the elbow, 49 players of them had no experience of visiting hospital. 7. To prevent these injuries of the elbow, the following recommendations were made. First, restrict the number of innings pitched per game. Second, avoid throwing the curve ball in this age group. Third, ensue an adequate warm up period before exercise or rest after games. Fourth, inform parents and coaches of possible harmful nature of excessive throwing.
Adolescent* ; Baseball* ; Child ; Daegu ; Elbow* ; Humans ; Humerus ; Hypertrophy ; Parents

We developed Extor pins for Extor external fixator, it made of stainless steel and applied it clinically to manage open fractures and chronic osteomyelitis from December, 1993 to January, 1995. The main aim of present study is to compare the mechanical strength and biocompatibillity between Extor pins and AO Schanz pins, and to determine the safety and possibility of clinical use. We performed the biomechanical test for bending, tension, and shearing of pin itself using universal testing machine (LR5OK) and pullout test in cadeveric cortical femur to determine the bone holding power. There was no significant difference between Extor and AO Schanz pin (p>0.05). Clinically, the incidence of pin site infection, pin lossening, radiological rarefaction, and pathological change were not different significantly (p>0.05). Although Extor pins are somewhat different from AO Shanz pins in material and design characteristics, we can find the safety and possibility of clinical use of Extor pins made in Korea.
External Fixators* ; Femur ; Fractures, Open ; Incidence ; Korea ; Osteomyelitis ; Stainless Steel

The incidence of gastric cancer is high in old age group and low in young age group, extremely rare in child age. So the diagnosis of gastric cancer in young age is often delayed, and this, with other factors such as poorly differentiated histopathologic tendency and rapid growing nature, makes the prognosis poorer than in other age guoup. Therefore it should always be remembered that the young who has gastric symptom may have malignancy in his stomach in spite of the age. We report a case of early gastric cancer in a 16-years old male with the review of the literature.
Adolescent ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Prognosis ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms*