Recently there are many sophisticated diagnostic tools for subclinical varicocele, but its clinical significance is debatable. Using Doppler stethoscope, we evaluated the presence of subclinical varicocele and its possible impact on male infertility. Retrograde flow. through the internal spermatic vein on Doppler stethoscope was detected in 34 cases(27.9 %) on left side, 9 cases (7.4%) on right side and 5 cases(4.1%) on both sides. Comparing both testicular volumes, there was no significant difference between the cases with subclinical varicocele and normal finding on Doppler stethoscope. Semen analysis was done in 83 cases except the cases with their children. Among these cases, 3 had abnormal semen quality, in which only one case with decreased sperm count revealed high grade subclinical varicocele. This case taken high ligation of internal spermatic vein. but the semen quality was not recovered during follow-up period up to 7 months. These results suggest that the incidence of subclinical varicocele by Doppler stethoscope is relatively high and its effect on male fertility may not be significant. Therefore it may be assumed that the subclinical varicocele does not need to be detected and treated actively.
Child ; Diagnosis* ; Fertility ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infertility, Male ; Ligation ; Male ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Stethoscopes* ; Varicocele* ; Veins

A histopathological study of erythema nodosum-like lesions in Behcet's disease was performed on 55 patients with incomplete and suspect types of Behcet's disease. Relatively common characteristics in histopathology of erythema nodosum-like lesions could be found in the patients with incomplete type of Behcet's disease. The histopathologic findings of erythema nodosum-like lesions in 21 patients with incomplete type of Behcet's disease were as follows : l. A moderate lymphocytic infiltration was found around the blood vessels and the sweat glands in the dermis. In the subcutaneous tissue, besides lymphohistiocytic infiltration, neutrophils were present in significant number in 9 cases (42.9%) 2. Vasculitis of small vessels was found within the periphery of fat lobules in 7 cases (81.0%), Five cases (23.8%) also showed thrombophlebitis. Seven cases (33.3%) showed histiocytic granuloma formation within the fat lobules. Microabscess formation in the subcutaneous tissue was seen in 5 cases (23.8 %), but it was not certain whether this was the charateristic feature.
Blood Vessels ; Dermis ; Erythema Nodosum* ; Erythema* ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Sweat Glands ; Thrombophlebitis ; Vasculitis

A clinico-pathological study on the true skin appendage tumors was carried on the accumulated cases during pat 11 years from 1976 to 1986 years in the Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital. The results was as follows; 1) Among various benign skin appendage tumors pilomatricoma was the most common benign tumor consisting of 72 out of 244 cases (30.1%), followed by dermoid cyst 48 cases (20.0%), steatocystoma multiplex 37 cases (15.5%), syringoma 33 cases (13.8%) and trichilemmal cyst 19 cases (0.8%). Other benign skin appendage tumors were rarely noted under 3%. Sebaceous carcinoma was most common among malignant skin appendage tumors and no malignant tumor of sweat gland origin was noted. 2) The sex ratio of male to female of the pilomatricoma was 1 : 2.6 and on the face, neck, and extremeties in 1st and 2nd decades. The sex ratio of dermoid cyst was 1 : 1.2 on the face in 1st decade. The sex ratio of steatocystoma multiplex was 1 : 1.9 and on the trunk in 3rd decade. The sex ratio of syringoma was 1 : 7 and on the face in 5th decade. The sex ratio of trichilemmoma was 1 : 1.6 and on the trunk in 5th decade. Other tumors were not avaiable for analysis because of small number. The sex ratio of sebaceous carcinoma was 1 : 2 and on the eyelid in 6th decade
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Cysts

BACKGROUND: Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) play key roles during T cell-dependent humoral immune responses by allowing antigen-specific B cells to survive, proliferate, and differentiate within the FDC networks of secondary follicles, i.e., germinal centers (GC). METHODS: A novel monoclonal antibody, 3C8, was generated by immunizing with an FDC line HK, in order to understand the molecular signals involved in the FDC-B cell interactions in the microenvironment of the GC. RESULTS: The 3C8 antibody did not bind to mononuclear cells, including T cells, B cells, and monocytes. Murine L929 and human skin fibroblasts exhibited no or little reactivity to 3C8. However, 3C8 specifically recognized HK cells by flowcytometry. Furthermore, the antigen recognized by 3C8 was restricted to the GC of the human tonsil. Dendritic networks of the GC were intensely stained by 3C8, but cells out side the GC were not. CONCLUSION: Our result s suggest that the antigen 3C8 may play some unique role on FDCs during the GC reactions.
B-Lymphocytes ; Cell Communication ; Dendritic Cells, Follicular* ; Fibroblasts ; Germinal Center ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Monocytes ; Palatine Tonsil ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes

Effective noninvasive modalities such as radiotherapy and pharmacologic treatments have become highly developed in the treatment of intractable cancer pain. Although epidural narcotics have been considered particularly useful, limitations still remain in their effectiveness for some patients. Surgical therapy can be a useful alternative to these treatments. Cordotomy is one of the most effective surgical treatments. The first percutaneous cordotomy was attempted by Mullan and his associates in 1963. Rosomoff and his associates modified the procedure using radiofrequency two years later. Cordotomy was widely used by the late 1960's but due to its limited effectiveness and serious complications it was abandoned until 1980 when a new electrode was developed by Levin. A thermocouple cordotomy electrode such as the Levin electrode allows monitoring of impedance and tissue temperature. A radiofrequency lesion can be made by increasing the current directly to the desired temperature rather than by gradual heating with the usual incremental increases in lesion current and time. With the use of this electrode, consistent clinical effects are assured and operating time is reduced. The chances of boiling or charring are also minimized. Since this electrode was developed, cordotomy has received renewed attention virtually everywhere except in Korea. Five terminal cancer patients in whom conservative treatments had failed were treated by cordotomy using the three types of thermocouple electrodes: the levin cordotomy electrode; the TCE thermocouple electrode, and the Kanpolat CT electrode. Due to the small number of patients, a comparison of the effectiveness of these three types could not be made. Although complete pain relief was not achieved in every case, dosages of narcotics could be reduced as a result of this procedure. There were no serious complications except a transient paralysis of the ipsilateral arm in one case and headaches in four cases.
Arm ; Cordotomy* ; Electric Impedance ; Electrodes* ; Headache ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Korea ; Narcotics ; Paralysis ; Radiotherapy ; Trout

We reported a case of nevus sebaceus associated with trichilemmoma in a 19-year- old female patient. The lesion was a 2 x 2 cm sized yellowish verrucous plaque with two 0.3 x 0.3 cm sized dome-shaped papules. Histopathological examinat,ion revealed hyperkeratosis, papillomatosis and acanthosis, proliferation of sebaceus glands, presence of apocrine gland and mild inflammatory cellular infiltration around superficial vessels. In the epidermis of the lesion, there were two foci of lobulated mass consisted of clear cells with columnar basal cells and thick basement membrane.
Apocrine Glands ; Basement Membrane ; Epidermis ; Female ; Humans ; Nevus* ; Nevus, Sebaceous of Jadassohn ; Papilloma

Many problems have been stated in the surveillance system of notifiable acute communicable diseases in Korea. Lack of objective tools for detecting epidemic is one of the most fundamental. We propose a statistical standard for detecting epidemic of those diseases that could be easily and promptly applicable to the existing data. Suggested standard measure is computed from the median and the spread of upper and lower hinge(spr(H)) which is robust to the assumption of normal distribution, so frequently used in exploratory data analysis as a measure of variation, and the results are compared with those of existing method using recent 3 years from January 1994 to December 1996 of monthly data of 8 notifiable acute communicable diseases in Korea. Monthly pattern of statistical epidemic between the proposed (median) and existing(mean) methods is similar. Therefore, we propose that the statistical epidemic should be defined when the current occurrence exeeds the standards of both methods. When the data collection is made weekly than monthly, the proposed method of determining the time of epidemic will be much helpful for the management of notifiable diseases.
Communicable Diseases* ; Data Collection ; Korea* ; Statistics as Topic

Paratuberculosis (PTB) is caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) and is one of the most widespread and economically important diseases in cattle. After birth, calves are raised with natural breast feeding without separation from their mothers in most Korean native cattle (Hanwoo breed) farms. Vertical transmission of PTB has been reported, but the exact PTB infection route has not been revealed in Hanwoo farms. Calves of MAP seropositive dams were tested for MAP presence and MAP antibodies in feces and tissues. MAP was detected in calf tissues by using polymerase chain reaction. Expressions of genes reported to be prognostic biomarkers of MAP infection changed in both calves and cows (p < 0.05). Expression of two genes (HGF and SERPINE1) were significantly decreased in MAP-infected cattle and their offspring (p < 0.01). The results suggest that biomarker gene expression profiles can be useful in detecting early stage MAP infection. Based on the results, complete eradication of MAP may be possible if accurate diagnostic methods to detect infected calves are added to the current PTB eradication strategy, which, because infected individuals are likely to develop into fecal MAP shedders at any time, includes isolation of new born calves and feeding sterilized colostrum.
Agriculture* ; Animals ; Antibodies ; Asymptomatic Infections ; Biomarkers* ; Breast Feeding ; Cattle* ; Colostrum ; Feces ; Humans ; Mothers ; Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis ; Paratuberculosis* ; Parturition ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transcriptome

Fibroepithelial polyp of the ureter is a extremely rare benign tumor which is mesodermal origin. It should be suspected preoperatively in cases with a long history of loin pain or hematuria, or both, in a younger patient with the radiologic finding of long ureteric filling defect. Unfortunately. in the majority of cases reviewed. the diagnosis was not made preoperatively but the diagnostic confirmation was made intraoperatively or postoperatively. Herein, we report a case of fibroepithelial polyp or the ureter which was diagnosed preoperatively with ureteroscope. The management was local segmental excision and end-to-end anastomosis of the ureter.
Diagnosis ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Mesoderm ; Polyps* ; Ureter* ; Ureteroscopes ; Ureteroscopy

Fibroepithelial polyp of the ureter is a extremely rare benign tumor which is mesodermal origin. It should be suspected preoperatively in cases with a long history of loin pain or hematuria, or both, in a younger patient with the radiologic finding of long ureteric filling defect. Unfortunately. in the majority of cases reviewed. the diagnosis was not made preoperatively but the diagnostic confirmation was made intraoperatively or postoperatively. Herein, we report a case of fibroepithelial polyp or the ureter which was diagnosed preoperatively with ureteroscope. The management was local segmental excision and end-to-end anastomosis of the ureter.
Diagnosis ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Mesoderm ; Polyps* ; Ureter* ; Ureteroscopes ; Ureteroscopy