It is highly desirable to achieve optimal reproductive performance, reliable morphological and physiological basic data of the reproductive organs. Therefore, seasonal changes in serum testosterone, LH, and FSH concentrations, and morphological changes in testicular epithelial cells were studied in the Korean native pheasant throughout the annual cycle. Mature male pheasants[14-16 months after hatching] were used in this study. The general morphological changes of the epithelia of the seminiferous tubules were observed by dibasic stain, and semithin section from Epon blocks with a phase contrast microscopy. The ultrastructural changes of the the epithelia of the seminiferous tubules were investigated by ultrathin section with transmission electron microscope. The changes in the profiles of the serum FSH, LH, and testosterone concentratioins were measured by RIA[radioimmunoassay]. The results obtained are summarized as follows : 1. There was little variation in the average diameter of the seminiferous tubules from autumn[67.13+/-5.95micrometer] to winter[68.59+/-6.07micrometer], but the highest levels were reached in spring[192.78+/-41.58micrometer]. Thereafter, the diameter decreased slowly in summer[146.57+/-43.68micrometer], then decreased significantly in autumn[67.13+/-5.95micrometer]. 2. Serum testosterne concentration was low from autumn[13.+/-7.21ng/100ml] to winter[17.39+/-13.75ng/100ml], but the highest levels were reached in spring[127.72+/-66.47 ng/100ml]. Thereafter, the concentration was lowest in autumn[13.+/-7.21ng/100ml]. 3. Serum LH concentration increased slowly and linealy from autumn[5.04+/-1.04ng/100ml] to winter[6.23+/-1.08ng/100ml], but the highest levels were reached in spring[11.3+/-3.6 ng/100ml]. Thereafter, the concentration reached the lowest level in autumn[5.04+/-1.04 ng/100ml]. 4. Serum FSH concentration was low from autumn[4.65+/-0.63ng/100ml] to winter[4.2+/-0.98ng/100ml], but the highest levels were reached in spring[17.41+/-8.35ng/100ml]. Thereafter, concentration was the lowest in autumn[4.65+/-0.63ng/100ml]. 5. The seminiferous tubules showed the onset of the spermatongenic cycle in spring but the seminiferous tubules collected in summer exhibited partially degenerative changes. 6. The cytoplasmic process of Sertoli cells of the seminiferous tubules of the pheasant were collected in summer. Many vesicles and degeneratiye changes were included but many number of spermatozoa were embedded partially in the multivesicular bodies in these processes. 7. The diameter of the seminiferous tubules of the pheasant narrowed markedly in autumn, and atrophied in winter. The spermatogonia and Sertoli cells were arranged in monolayer. 8. The myelin figures in the cytoplasmic process of Sertoli cells of the seminiferous tubules of the pheasant in autumn. The nucleus of the Sertoli cells were of a round configuration elongated and oriented perpendicularly to the basement membrane. The results obtained provide basic data for reproductive physiology and are useful for studying the male genital organs of the Korean native pheasant. Structural changes of the seminiferous epithelial cells significantly and postively correlated with serum FSH, LH. The correlation of changes in the hormonal status with alterations of Sertoli cell organells precedes the breeding season.
Basement Membrane ; Breeding ; Cytoplasm ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium* ; Genitalia, Male ; Humans ; Male ; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast ; Multivesicular Bodies ; Myelin Sheath ; Physiology ; Seasons* ; Seminiferous Tubules* ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatogonia ; Spermatozoa ; Testosterone*

Protrusion of coil loop(s) and subsequent occlusion of the parent artery is one of the dreadful complications during endovascular coil embolization of cerebral aneurysm. Although protrusion of one or two coil loops may not cause adverse events and can be ignored in many instances, it can also compromise the parent artery in some cases with or without thrombus formation. We report a case of rescue balloon reposition of the protruding coil mass back into the aneurysm and recanalization of parent artery during embolization of the anterior communicating artery aneurysm.
Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Parents ; Thrombosis

This experiment was performed to study the morphological responses of the thymic cortex of the mice after administration of BCG. Healthy adult mice weighing 25gm each were divided into normal and experimental groups. BCG[0.03X108-0.32X108 CFU] were injected subcutaneously to the animals every other day, and animals were sacrificed at 4 days, 1 week, 2 weeks and 8 weeks following the first injection. Thymus were removed immediately after sacrifice and transferred to cold phosphate buffered 2.5% glutaraldehyde-1.5% paraformaldehyde solution[pH 7.3], and cut into small pieces. Tissue samples were fixed for 2-3 hours in the same fixative, postfixed with phosphate buffered 1% osmium tetroxide solution[pH 7.3], dehydrated in a graded series of alcohol, and embedded in araldite mixture. Ultrathin sections stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate were observed with a JEM 100CX-II electron microscope. The observed results were as follow : 1. In the early BCG treated groups, a few eosinophile leucocytes were observed, but more eosinophils were observed in later groups. Some elongated and bar-shaped lysosomes with eletron lucent gap were often obserced in the macrophages. 2. Cortical population of thymocytes in the thymus were reduced, whereas territoris of the epithelial reticular cells were expanded especially in 2 weeks and 8 weeks groups. Some portion of the thymic cortex exhibited large intercellular spaces, and a few nuclear bodies filled with materials of medium density were observed in the epithelial reticular cells. 3. In the 8 weeks groups, macrophages, plasma cells and eosinopile leucocytes and developing eosinophile leucocytes were often observed in the thymic cortex. Distended cisternae of granular endoplasmic reticula and newly forming prosecretory granulses in the Golgi complex were ovserved in som plasma cells. From the above results, it was suggested that repeated treatment with BCG could induce disturb the maturation and differentiation of the T lymphocytes. In turn, BCG, if repeatedly injected, may disturb the immunological medchanism.
Adult ; Animals ; Citric Acid ; Eosinophils ; Extracellular Space ; Golgi Apparatus ; Humans ; Lysosomes ; Macrophages ; Mice* ; Mycobacterium bovis* ; Osmium Tetroxide ; Plasma Cells ; T-Lymphocytes ; Thymocytes ; Thymus Gland

We report a case of ruptured mycotic aneurysm involving innominate artery requiring an urgent surgical treatment. A 62-yr-old woman presented with fever and dyspnea. Previously, she was diagnosed with colon cancer and received right hemicolectomy and one cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy. On echocardiogram, pericardial effusion was noted and emergency pericardiocentesis was performed. CT scan revealed aortic aneurysm involving ascending aorta and innominate artery, and thrombi surrounding those structures. Patch repair of the defect in the ascending aorta and ringed Goretex graft to bypass the innominate and ascending aorta were performed. We believe that this is the first case of ruptured mycotic aneurysm involving innominate artery.
Aneurysm, Infected/*surgery ; Aorta/pathology ; Aortic Aneurysm/surgery ; Brachiocephalic Trunk/pathology ; Colonic Neoplasms/drug therapy/surgery ; Female ; Human ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To assess the enhancement patterns of sellar and parasellar tumors at two-phase helical CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients with pathologically proven sellar and parasellar tumors [meningioma (n=17), pituitary mocroadenoma (n=6), neurogenic tumor (n=5), cavernous angioma (n=1), chondrosarcoma (n=1), osteosarcoma (n=1), sphenoid carcinoma (n=1)] were included in this study. Two-phase helical CT was performed after the injection of 90 mL of contrast material at a rate of 3 mL/sec. Transverse helical CT scans were obtained during the early and late phases, with scanning delays of 30 and 120 seconds, respectively. Delayed coronal images were obtained after delayed axial images. Attenuation change and the enhancement patterns of the tumors were visually assessed; the former was also assessed quantitatively as the ratio of the CT number at late-phase axial and coronal scanning to that at early-phase scanning. RESULTS: Visual assessment of two-phase helical CT images revealed decreased attenuation in all 17 meningiomas, no change in all six pituitary macroadenomas and increased attenuation in 5 all five neurogenic tumors on late-phase axial scans as compared with early phase scans. Coronal images showed decreased attenuation in all 17 meningiomas, increased attenuation in all five neurogenic tumors and no change in four pituitary macroadenomas (66.7%). The ratio of CT numbers was significantly different between meningiomas, neurogenic tumors and pituitary macroadenomas(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: According to their histopathology, sellar and parasellar tumors showed characteristic enhancement patterns at two-phase helical CT. An analysis of the observed enhancement patterns can be useful in the differential diagnosis of juxtasellar tumors.
Chondrosarcoma ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; Humans ; Meningioma ; Osteosarcoma ; Tomography, Spiral Computed*

We have experienced 2 patients with dorsally migrated sequestrated lumbar disc herniation with cauda equina syndrome and obtained a complete motor and sensory recovery after early decompressive laminectomy and discectomy with or without fusion in all cases. The purpose of this paper is to report two unusual cases of lumbar disc herniation that we experienced, and to emphasize the importance of early decompressive surgery for the treatment of cauda equina syndrome accompanied with dorsally migrated sequestrated lumbar disc herniation.
Cauda Equina* ; Diskectomy ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Polyradiculopathy*

PURPOSE: We compared the reproducibility of 201Tl and 99mTc-sestamibi (MIBI) gated SPECT measurement of myocardial function using the Germano algorithm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gated SPECT acquisition was repeated in the same position in 30 patients who received 201Tl and in 26 who received 99mTc-MIBI. The quantification of end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), and ejection fraction (EF) on 201Tl and 99mTc-MIBI gated SPECT was processed independently using Cedars quantitative gated SPECT software. The reproducibility of the assessment of myocardial function on 201Tl gated SPECT was compared with that of 99mTc-MIBI gated SPECT. RESULTS: Correlation between the two measurements for volumes and EF was excellent by the repeated gated SPECT studies of 201Tl (r=0.928 to 0.986; p<0.05) and 99mTc-MIBI (r=0.979 to 0.997; p<0.05). However, Bland Altman analysis revealed the 95% limits of agreement (2 SD) for volumes and EF were tighter by repeated 99mTc-MIBI gated SPECT (EDV: 14.1 ml, ESV: 9.4 ml and EF: 5.5%) than by repeated 201Tl gated SPECT (EDV: 24.1 ml, ESV: 18.6 ml and EF: 10.3%). The root mean square (RMS) values of the coefficient of variation (CV) for volumes and EFs were smaller by repeated 99mTc-MIBI gated SPECT (EDV: 2.1 ml, ESV: 2.7 ml and EF: 2.3%) than by repeated 201Tl gated SPECT (EDV: 3.2 ml, ESV: 3.5 ml and EF: 5.2%). CONCLUSION: 99mTc-MIBI provides more reproducible volumes and EF than 201Tl on repeated acquisition gated SPECT. 99mTc-MIBI gated SPECT is the preferable method for the clinical monitoring of myocardial function.
Humans ; Perfusion* ; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

OBJECTIVE: Distal posterior cerebral artery(PCA) aneurysms requiring the problematic surgical approaches are rarely encountered. With the development of endovascular treatment, distal PCA aneurysms tend to be treated by endovascular method rather than surgery. We report our experience of distal PCA aneurysms, which were managed mainly by endovascular treatment. METHODS: During the last 5 years, there were five patients harboring distal PCA aneurysms(0.7% among a total 656 intracranial aneurysms). Four patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage, while one presented with ipsilateral facial hypesthesia. Four of them were treated by endovascular(Guglielmi detachable coil: GDC) embolization and one was treated by surgical clipping after failure of GDC embolization. RESULTS: Complete obliteration with parent artery encroachment was confirmed in 2 cases. There was one occipital lobe infarction and it resulted in the homonymous quadrantanopsia. In the other case, cerebral infarction did not develop. Incomplete coil embolization was inevitably performed to avoid parent artery occlusion in another two cases. CONCLUSION: Even with the obliteration of the parent artery, distal PCA aneurysms could be treated by use of GDC effectively. Adequate collateral supply to the distal arterial territory seems to contribute to it. Further study needs to be performed to verify this hypothesis.
Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Cerebral Infarction ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Hemianopsia ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Infarction ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Occipital Lobe ; Parents ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Posterior Cerebral Artery* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Surgical Instruments

OBJECTIVE: To determine the utility of perfusion MR imaging in the differential diagnosis of brain tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven patients with pathologically proven brain tumors (21 high-grade gliomas, 8 low-grade gliomas, 8 lymphomas, 6 hemangioblastomas, 7 metastases, and 7 various other tumors) were included in this study. Relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) and time-to-peak (TTP) ratios were quantitatively analyzed and the rCBV grade of each tumor was also visually assessed on an rCBV map. RESULTS: The highest rCBV ratios were seen in hemangioblastomas, followed by high-grade gliomas, metastases, low-grade gliomas, and lymphomas. There was no significant difference in TTP ratios between each tumor group (p<0.05). At visual assessment, rCBV was high in 17 (81%) of 21 high-grade gliomas and in 4 (50%) of 8 low-grade gliomas. Hemangioblastomas showed the highest rCBV and lymphomas the lowest. CONCLUSION: Perfusion MR imaging may be helpful in the differentiation of thevarious solid tumors found in the brain, and in assessing the grade of the various glial tumors occurring there.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Analysis of Variance ; Blood Volume/physiology ; Brain/*pathology/physiopathology ; Brain Neoplasms/*pathology/physiopathology/secondary ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Age ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVE: To assess the utility of multiphasic perfusion CT in the prediction of final infarct volume, and the relationship between lesion volume revealed by CT imaging and clinical outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients who have not undergone thrombolytic therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients underwent multiphasic perfusion CT within six hours of stroke onset. After baseline unenhanced helical CT scanning, contrast-enhanced CT scans were obtained 20, 34, 48, and 62 secs after the injection of 90 mL contrast medium at a rate of 3 mL/sec. CT peak and total perfusion maps were obtained from serial CT images, and the initial lesion volumes revealed by CT were compared with final infarct volumes and clinical scores. RESULTS: Overall, the lesion volumes seen on CT peak perfusion maps correlated most strongly with final infarct volumes (R2=0.819, p<0.001, slope of regression line=1.016), but individual data showed that they were less than final infarct volume in 31.4% of patients. In those who showed early clinical improvement (n=6), final infarct volume tended to be overestimated by CT peak perfusion mapping and only on total perfusion maps was there significant correlation between lesion volume and final infarct volume (R2=0.854, p=0.008). The lesion volumes depicted by CT maps showed moderate correlation with baseline clinical scores and clinical outcomes (R=0.445-0.706, p<=0.007). CONCLUSION: CT peak perfusion maps demonstrate strong correlation between lesion volume and final infarct volume, and accurately predict final infarct volume in about two-thirds of the 35 patients. The lesion volume seen on CT maps shows moderate correlation with clinical outcome.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Volume/*physiology ; Cerebrovascular Circulation/physiology ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Human ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/*physiopathology/*radiography ; Male ; Middle Age ; Middle Cerebral Artery/*physiopathology/*radiography ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed