OBJECTIVE: To assess the scavenging effect of carnitine derivatives on oxidative damage to sperm during sperm processing cryopreservation and thawing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fresh semen samples from 20 normal healthy volunteers were collected by masturbation after at least 48 hours abstinence. After liquefaction of semen samples at room temperature, the specimens were diluted with sperm wash media (Ham's F-10, Life technologics) to a uniform density of 20x106/ml. L-carnitine or acetylcarnitine were added with various concentration of 0 micrometer, 10 micrometer, 30 micrometer in semen sample or cryoprotectant. All specimens were cryopreservated at -196degrees C LN2 for 3 days. Sperm motility, vitality, fertilizing capacity, reactive oxygen species formation and the level of lipid peroxidation were analyzed by computer assisted semen analyzer, eosin-nigrosin stain, hypo-osmotic swelling test, chemiluminescence and thiobarbituric acid method, respectively, during sperm processing, cryopreservation and thawing. RESULTS: The sperm motility was only increased in proportion to the concentration of acetylcarnitine with no statistical significance (p>0.05). The sperm vitality was also significantly improved in proportion to the concentration of acetylcarnitine with statistical significance (p<0.05). The sperm fertilizing capacity was significantly increased in proportion to the concentration of L-carnitine and acetylcarnitine and reactive oxygen species generation and lipid peroxidation were significantly decreased with same fashion(p<0.05). On comparison of effects between L-carnitine and acetylcarnitine, acetylcarnitine was superior to L-carnitine on the improvement of sperm motility and vitality as well as the suppression of reactive oxygen species generation and lipid peroxidation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that carnitine derivatives have a scavenging effect against oxidative damages during sperm processing, cryopreservation and thawing. Therefore, carnitine derivatives may be useful as an oral antioxidant in patients with male infertility due to increased ROS generation.
Acetylcarnitine* ; Carnitine* ; Cryopreservation ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Luminescence ; Male ; Masturbation ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Semen ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa*

No abstract available.
Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Head* ; Prognosis*

No abstract available.
Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Head*

No abstract available.
Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital*

A retrospective review was performed of 297 patients admitted to Chung Ang Gil Hospital between June 1995 and December 1996 with a diagnosis of blunt chest trauma. Of these patients, 34% suffered either immediate or delayed complications. Immediate complications included hemothorax in 58.8%, pneumothorax in 26.5%, and pulmonary contusion in 20.5%. Delayed complications occurred in 9.1% of patients overall; these included pulmonary contusion in 12.7%, pneumonia in 9.8%, pulmonary embolism in 2%, poeumothorax in 2%, and hemothorax in 2%. The mean age of the patients were 43 years. 210 patients(70.7%) were under age 50 and 87(29.3%) were 50 years of age or older. Male to female ratio was 1.9:1. Mean Initial Revised Trauma Score (RTS) and the Injury Severity Score (ISS) were 7.10+/-0.94 and 14+/-8.69, respectively. There were associated injuries in 225(75.8%) patients. Overall mortality rate was 7.1% and the mortality rate was significantly greater in patients with a RTS<6, ISS>or=16, associated injuries, advanced age(50 years of age or older), and pulmonary complications. Pulmonary complications were significantly greater in patients with a RTS<6, ISS>or=16, and an associated injuries.
Contusions ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Male ; Mortality* ; Pneumonia ; Pneumothorax ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax*

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a disseminated xanthogranulomatous infiltrative disease of unknown origin which reveals the infiltration of different organs and bones by foamy histiocytes. Patients with ECD have specific skeletal X-ray findings, with characteristic osteosclerosis of long bones, and histiocytes stained negative for S-100 antibody and electron microscopy of their cytoplasm does not reveal Birbeck granules. ECD represents variable clinical manifestations due to systemic involvement including the liver, spleen, pancreas, peritoneum, lung, pericardium, retroperitoneum and kidney. We report a case of ECD with bilateral hydronephrosis treated with the insertion of double J catheter following to the steroid based chemotherapy with a brief review of the literature.
Catheters ; Cytoplasm ; Drug Therapy ; Erdheim-Chester Disease* ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis* ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Microscopy, Electron ; Osteosclerosis ; Pancreas ; Pericardium ; Peritoneum ; Spleen

No abstract available.
Fallopian Tubes* ; Female

Thirteen cases of lengthening of short tubular bone by gradual axial distraction using an unilateral external fixator(Orthofix M-100, Orthofix CP0089) are reported. This study aims to prove effective- ness of gradual distraction for lengthening of short tubular bone and usefulness of the newly designed external fixator. Nine patients had brachymetatarsia and four brachymetacarpia. The etiology was consisted of post-traumatic physeal injury in two and congenital in eleven cases. The average amount of lengthening was 14.5mm(37.0%) in metacarpal bone, and 17.3mm(37.5%) in metatarsal. Complications were angular deformity in 3, pin loosening in 2 cases, and premature consolidation, nonunion and pin site infection in one case, respectively. Cosmetical and functional satisfactory results were obtained in all cases. We believe that callotasis is effective for short tubular bone lengthening. Also we confirmed the newly designed external fixa- tor(Orthofix CP0089) useful.
Bone Lengthening ; Congenital Abnormalities ; External Fixators ; Humans ; Metatarsal Bones ; Osteogenesis, Distraction

OBJECTIVE: We evaluate the effect of the copolymer-coated coils on immediate occlusion of the aneurysm, preventing rupture, and decreasing compaction or re-growth. METHODS: Thirty-five aneurysms treated between September 2003 and December 2004 using Matrix detachable coil were reviewed. Study population consisted of 12 men and 23 women ranging in age from 34 to 75 years(mean, 55.1 years). Twentytwo aneurysms were ruptured and 23 aneurysms were located in the anterior circulation. Follow-up angiography was obtained in 16 patients after 6 months from the procedure. RESULTS: Initial complete occlusion was achieved in 17 aneurysms(48.6%), and the others remained as a residual neck in 8 aneurysms(22.8%) and residual sac in 10 aneurysms(28.6%). Among these incompletely occluded aneurysms, 7 aneurysms were performed follow-up angiography. And 6 of them converted into complete occlusion. In the other hands, among 17 aneurysms achieved complete occlusion initially, 9 aneurysms were performed follow-up angiography. Recurrence due to coil compaction occurred in one aneurysm and the others maintained complete occlusion. There was one mortality case due to thromboembolic complication. CONCLUSION: In spite of difficulty in achieving complete occlusion with Matrix coil system, there is no rupture or re-rupture during follow-up period. Follow-up angiography shows many conversions of residual sac into complete occlusion. Embolization using Matrix coil system is safe and effective, but the effects of PGLA copolymer need further investigation.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hand ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Male ; Mortality ; Neck ; Recurrence ; Rupture

No abstract available.
DNA* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin*