Male genital tract inflammatory conditions may be associated with unexplained infertility. The presence of cytokine such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was reported in the semen of infertile men. However, the effect of these cytokines on human sperm function is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in-vitro effects of TNF-alpha on human sperm motility with computer assisted sperm analysis. Washed sperm from 16 normal men were incubated without and with TNF-alpha(0.1, 10, 1000 ng/ml). The changes of parameters of sperm motility were recorded at different time intervals (0, 5, 24 hour). There was no significant change of parameters of sperm motility in the incubation with TNF-alpha. It is suggested that TNF-alpha alone does not interfere with the sperm motility and more studies are needed.
Cytokines ; Humans ; Infertility ; Male ; Semen ; Sperm Motility* ; Spermatozoa* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

BACKGROUND: The length of postoperative drug therapy remains controversial in pulmonary tuberculosis. We analyzed our experiences to determine the postoperative duration of chemotherapy after resection. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed in 66 of 95 patients that underwent pulmonary resection for pulmonary tuberculosis between January 1993 and December 1998. We compared the relapse rates according to the length of postoperative chemotherapy in each group, classified by the results of sputum AFB culture before the surgery, the number of resistant durgs, the number of prior treatment and the division of anti-TB drugs used postoperatively. RESULTS: Fifty three of 66(80.3%) were men and 13(19.7%) were women with a median age of 33.5 years(range, 16 to 63). The mean lengths of the pre-and post-operative chemotherapies were 4.9 months, and 12.9 months respectively. Five of 66 patients(7.6%) relapsed during the mean period of follow up(39.7 months). In the group less than three times of the prior treatment, there were two relapses(20%) in Ed-the highlight above-rephrase 10 patients that were medicated for 6 months or less, and one relapse in 43 patients(2.3%) that took medicine for more than 6 months(p=0.03). In the group using second-line drugs postoperatively, there was one relapse(25%) in four patients that were medicated for 12 months or less. No patient in a total of 17 that received medicine for more than 12 months relapsed(p=0.03). CONCLUSION: We recommend that patients with the prior treatment less than three times should be treated for more than 6 months after resection and patients using the second-line drugs postoperatively should be medicated for more than 12 months.
Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Deamino Arginine Vasopressin* ; Humans ; Osmolar Concentration*

No abstract available.
Africa* ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Myiasis* ; Sarcophagidae* ; Wounds and Injuries*

No abstract available.
Ambulatory Care* ; Osteoarthritis*

BACKGROUNDS: As life expectancy is increasing, it is necessary to evaluate the health and nutritional status in elderly, especially in tube-fed elderly patients whose malnutritional status is related to the increase in mortality. This study was conducted to improve the nutritional status in tube-fed elderly patients. METHODS: Effects of nutritional support on tube-fed elderly patients(> or =65years) for 8 weeks were investigated by biochemical assessment and weight. RESULTS: When comparing the biochemical changes of the control group(n=8) with those of the case group(n=8), it showed significant differences in total protein, serum albumin and TLC(p<0.05), not in serum transferrin, serum iron, hemoglobin, hematocrit and weight(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests the in tube-fed elderly patients can be improved if nutritional support is properly administrated.
Aged* ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Iron ; Life Expectancy ; Mortality ; Nutritional Status ; Nutritional Support* ; Serum Albumin ; Transferrin

Endoscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using central one-third of bone-patellar tendon-bone autografts were performed on 76 consecutive patients. 36 patients out of them were reviewed and evaluated with subjective and functional rating scales according to the Lysholm knee scoring system, physical examination and instrumented anterior laxity test. The average follow-up was 2 years and 1 month, ranging from 1 year and 6 months to 3 years and 8 months and the everage age at operation was 31 years old, ranging from 20 to 49 years old. At follow-up, the average Lysholm knee score was 87.2 compared to the average score of 49.5 prior to reconstruction. Physical examination and instrumented anterior laxity test showed that excellent anterior stability was regained in all patients but two. There were 4 cases of complication, a fibrous nodule anterior to reconstructed ACL, an effusion of knee, a thrombophlebits, and an inadequate placement of screw fixation with protrusion of bone peg out of tibial hole. In summary, endoscopic ACL reconstruction using central 1/3 of bone-patellar tendon-bone seems to be a good procedure, which leaves less operative scar, takes short operation time and gives a constant good result as far as the surgeon is familiar with the technique.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; Autografts ; Cicatrix ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Lysholm Knee Score ; Physical Examination ; Weights and Measures

Partial meniscectomy was a common method of treatment for a meniscal injury and currently available instruments were scalpel, punch, electrocautery, CO2, laser, Nd: YAG laser, etc. However some methods could cause injuries to adjacent meniscal tissue after meniscectomy. An experimental study was conducted in order to examine the depth of injury to adjacent meniscal tissue according to above 5 different methods of meniscectomy. 25 medial menisci were harvested from Yorkshire pig knee immediately after the death of pig. Meniscal injury, 1.5cm long and 0.5cm wide, was made by using 5 different methods and was analysed macroscopically and microscopically. Average depth of injury was 237 in Nd: YAG laser group. 258um in electrocautery group, 307um in CO2, laser group, and nil in scalpel and punch group. The depth of meniscal injury of Nd: YAG laser and electrocautery group were less than that of CO2, laser group. Scalpel and punch were the most safe methods to adjacent meniscal tissue. CO2, laser, Nd: YAG laser and electrocautery should be carefully applied because they could cause the significant depth of injury in the adjacent meniscal tissue.
Electrocoagulation ; Knee ; Lasers, Solid-State ; Menisci, Tibial ; Methods

Subtrochsnteric varization osteotomy with open wedge technic was performed for the Legg-Calve-Perthes disease patients of 6 years to 9 years of age. Open wedge technic is less complicated with unwilling effect of postoperative leg shortening than closed wedge technic, but has seldom performed for the patients over 5 years of age because of possible delayed or nonunion of osteotomy site. Authors trial of this technic in a older patient(6 to 9 years of age) showed excellent post-operative result with noneventual post-operative course including delayed or nonunion.
Humans ; Leg ; Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease ; Osteotomy

No abstract available.
Diagnosis*