No abstract available.

PURPOSE: It is reported that 65% of diabetic male patients over 60 of their age are impotent. However, there is no report concerning the effect of serum glucose control on erectile dysfunction in diabetic patient. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of serum glucose control on erectile dysfunction. MATERIALS AMD METHODS: The development of Diabetes mellitus was defined that the serum glucose level was above 200mg/dL in random test at 25 weeks. We designed the experimental specimen into 3 groups; group I: diabetic OLETF (Otsuka Long Evans Tokushima Fatty) rats without blood sugar control (n=10), group II: diabetic OLETF rats with blood sugar control with 4U insulin subcutaneous injection daily from 26 to 46 weeks (n=10), group III: diabetic OLETF rats with blood sugar control with 10U insulin subcutaneous injection daily from 26 to 46 weeks (n=10). We estimated the collagen content of penile tunica albuginea with the scanning electron microscopy and observed the endothelial layers of corpus cavernosum with the transmission electron microscopy in each group. RESULTS: The serum glucose level was 249 +/- 4.1mg/dL, 234 +/- 2.7mg/dL, 215 +/- 3.0mg/dL respectively in group I, II, III, and decreased in order of group II, III. The differences among groups were statistically significant (p<0.05). The thickness of collagen bundles of penile tunica albuginea was 0.98 +/- 0.1 micrometer, 0.94 +/- 0.3 micrometer, 0.92 +/- 0.1 micrometer respectively in group I, II, III, and decreased in order of group II, III. The differences among groups were statistically significant (p<0.05). The endothelial layers of corpus cavernosum were decreased in II, III. CONCLUSIONS: The serum glucose control in diabetic rats decreases the collagen con tents in penile tunica albuginea and the endothelial layers of corpus cavernosum.
Animals ; Blood Glucose* ; Collagen* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Endothelium ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Insulin ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Rats* ; Rats, Inbred OLETF

No abstract available.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins* ; Kidney Failure, Chronic*

Sarcoidosis is a rare d:sease in Korea and its association with erythema nodosurn is even rarer. Recently we saw a patient of bihilar adenopathy, who had arthralgia and erythematous nodules of both lower legs. A skin biopsy obtained from the erythematous nodule of the lower leg showed septal panniculitis, consitent with erythema nodosum, and a biopsy from the mediastinal lymph node revealed a pathology consistent with sarcoidosis. This is the first case of Lofgrens syndrome confirmed by histology ir, Korea.
Arthralgia ; Biopsy ; Erythema ; Erythema Nodosum ; Humans ; Korea ; Leg ; Lymph Nodes ; Panniculitis ; Pathology ; Sarcoidosis ; Skin

No abstract available.
Colonic Neoplasms* ; Rectum*

This study consisted of 66 peritrochanteric fractures which were treated by the modified Gamma nail (Asian Pacific nail) from August 1993 to October 1995. Sixty-one intertrochanteric fractures and five subtrochanteric fractures were treated in our institution. Average length of follow-up was 15.0 months. Four patients died during follow-up. The results were as follows; Lag screws were ideally introduced in 55 (83%) cases. The mean length in lag screw sliding was 4.3 mm in stable trochanteric fractures and 5.7 mm in unstable ones. Fifty-one out of 62 patients (82%) were returned to their previous ambulatory status. Intraoperative complications were as follows; distal crack (3 cases); rotation of femoral head (2 cases); entry point crack (I case); medialization of proximal fragment (7 cases); and missing of the interlocking screw (1 case). All of these complications did not affect the outcome. All medial cortical gaps were closed after sliding of lag screws. Three distal cracks did not propagate to the shaft. Postoperative complications were a case of superior cut-out, and two second fractures after falls. Callus formed more early in the stable trochanteric fractures (5+/-2.1 weeks) than unstable fractures (7.3+/-2.1 weeks). It was statistically significant. Union time between stable and unstable trochanteric fractures was not statistically significant. In conclusion, the Asian Pacific (AP) nail could appropriately fix the osteoporotic peritrochanteric fractures in elderly patient. It could offer early rehabilitation to these patients and decrease the mortality and morbidity.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bony Callus ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary* ; Head ; Hip Fractures ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Rehabilitation

PURPOSE: We analyzed cases of advanced gastric cancer (AGC) by using two nodal stagings, UICC and Japanese systems. We also analyzed cases of UICC N3M0 by different ways to see which nodal system or group had better prognostic power. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From Feb.1990 to May 2000, 197 UICC M0 patients of AGC who had undergone curative resection were analyzed by using the nodal stagings of the UICC and the Japanese systems. Also, 58 patients with UICC N3M0 gastric cancer were analyzed by using the Japanese n-staging, metastatic ratio and the metastatic number. RESULTS: The 5-year survival rates were 62.9%, 33.0% and 21.2% for UICC N1, N2 and N3, and 61.2% and 25.3% for Japanese n1 and n2, respectively in patients of N3M0 AGC, the 5-year survival rates were 62.5% for Japanese n1, and 33.0% and 22.9% for metastatic ratios of less than 0.5 and metastatic numbers below 26, respectively significantly better than the 5-year survival rates for higher ratios and numbers (P=0.018, 0.021). CONCLUSION: UICC N staging of gastric cancer has better prognostic power with differentiation between stages than Japanese n staging. In patients with UICC N3M0 gastric cancer, the metastatic ratio and the metastatic number, as well as the Japanese n staging, were valuable prognostic factors.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Classification* ; Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: In pregnancy, paternal human leukocyte antigen (HLA) that the fetus possesses can induce the development of cytotoxic HLA antibodies in the pregnant women. We investigated the frequency and the characteristics of HLA antibodies during the pregnancy in Koreans. METHODS: Sera from 192 pregnant women (46 in the 1st trimester, 120 in the 2nd and 26 in the 3rd trimester) were tested for the presence of HLA antibody. Home made lymphocyte panel from 36 volunteers whose HLA-A, B and C antigens had been already identified 3nd formerly frozen in a liquid nitrogen tank were dispensed in duplicate into 72-well microplates and used as testing trays Test sera of one pregnant women with one negative control serum were dispensed in each plate and the plates were tested by microlymphocytotoxic method using anti-human immunoglobulin. The results were observed under fluorescence microscope and PRA (panel reactive antibody) values were determined by the percentage of wells showing positive reactions. HLA antibody specificities were identified by analysis of reaction characteristics. RESULTS: Among the 192 sera, 22 (11.5%) showed positive PRA value (PRA > 0%) in HLA antibody screening tests, in which 20 were less than 50% and 2 were more than 50% of PRA value. Two of the 46 subjects (4.3%) in the 1st trimester, 15 of the 120 (12.5%) in the 2nd and 5 of the 26 (19 2%) in the 3rd trimester were positive for HLA antibody. Among the 22 positive sera , specificities of HLA antibodies were identified in 14 (64%) sera: 8 sera had HLA antibody against single private HLA antigen. 5 had HLA antibodies against two or more antigens. and 1 sera showed anti-Bw4 antibody. CONCLUSION: In 192 pregnant women, 22 (11.5%) had HLA-A, B antibodies and they showed higher frequencies with the progress of pregnancy. Most of the pregnant women who were positive for HLA antibodies showed PRA value less than 50%. HLA antibody specificities were identified in 14 out of 22 positive sera (64%).
Antibodies* ; Antibody Specificity ; Female ; Fetus ; Fluorescence ; HLA-A Antigens* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocytes ; Mass Screening ; Nitrogen ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Volunteers

PURPOSE:Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, and stomach is the major site of ghrelin secretion. The purpose of this study is to compare the serum ghrelin concentrations between patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and normal adults. We studied also whether serum ghrelin levels in the patients with type 2 DM are correlated with body mass index (BMI), serum insulin, lipid profiles, and creatinine levels. METHODS:Forty patients with type 2 DM and forty normal adults were included in this study. We measured heights and weights of the subjects and calculated their BMIs. Blood samples were obtained to measure the ghrelin concentration and their sera were stored at -20degreeC until used. In all subjects, serum ghrelin levels were measured using the commercially available Ghrelin(human) EIA kit. RESULTS:No differences of mean values were detected between the control group and the type 2 diabetic group for age, body weight, BMI, and the levels of serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, and creatinine. But ghrelin level of the type 2 diabetic group (71.1+/-30.5 ng/L) was significantly lower than the control group (139.7+/-36.9 ng/L). In the control group, the ghrelin level showed positive correlation with HDL cholesterol (Pearson's correlation coefficient=0.37, P<0.05). In the diabetic group, the ghrelin level showed weakly positive correlation with insulin concentration. However, there was no significant relationship between serum ghrelin and various parameters in the diabetic patients group. CONCLUSION: In this study, ghrelin concentration in type 2 diabetic patients was lower than that in the control group. In the control group, serum ghrelin concentrations were positively correlated with HDL cholesterol. In the type 2 diabetic group, there was no significant correlation between insulin and ghrelin concentrations.
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Creatinine ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Ghrelin* ; Humans ; Insulin ; Receptors, Ghrelin ; Stomach ; Triglycerides ; Weights and Measures

We report an autopsy case of the brain stem glioma that extended extensively in the brain stem itself and cephalad. This 18-year-old boy first presented with dizziness, vomiting and left side weakness with left facial palsy. Brain MRI revealed a diffusely infiltrative tumor involving whole medulla, pons and lower midbrain. A total of 4000 R was given with some alleviation of respiratory difficulty. He died one year after the onset. Autopsy revealed the tumor involving pons, a portion of medulla oblongata, and cerebellum. The tumor showed diffusely infiltrative pattern and extended along the periventricular area to the thalamus and corpus callosum. The cut surface was grayish white and solid. It also showed areas of myxoid degeneration and necrosis probably related to radiation therapy. Microscopically the tumor was a cellular and pleomorphic glioma that showed some astrocytic differentiation. It was diffuse without geographic necrosis.