In order to clarify high incidence of impaired fertility associated with unilateral cryptorchidism, this clinical study was made on 21 cases of unilateral cryptorchidism from the Department of Urology National Medical Center during recent 5 years. Fertility was evaluated by seminal quality, testicular gross anatomy and cryptorchid testicular histology. Examination of the seminal fluid that included sperm count, motility and morphology was performed according to the standard method. The result of our seminal studies showed that 38% (<20 millions) or 47.6% (<40 millions) of the unilateral cryptorchids were oligospermic. The incidence of oligospermia is significantly higher in individuals with an apparently normal solitary testis than in the general population.
Cryptorchidism* ; Fertility* ; Incidence ; Male ; Oligospermia ; Semen Analysis* ; Semen* ; Sperm Count ; Testis ; Urology

In order to clarify high incidence of impaired fertility associated with unilateral cryptorchidism, this clinical study was made on 21 cases of unilateral cryptorchidism from the Department of Urology National Medical Center during recent 5 years. Fertility was evaluated by seminal quality, testicular gross anatomy and cryptorchid testicular histology. Examination of the seminal fluid that included sperm count, motility and morphology was performed according to the standard method. The result of our seminal studies showed that 38% (<20 millions) or 47.6% (<40 millions) of the unilateral cryptorchids were oligospermic. The incidence of oligospermia is significantly higher in individuals with an apparently normal solitary testis than in the general population.
Cryptorchidism* ; Fertility* ; Incidence ; Male ; Oligospermia ; Semen Analysis* ; Semen* ; Sperm Count ; Testis ; Urology

A review was presented in 4 cases of one-stage Duckett's method for hypospadia which was experienced in our hospital. Of 4 cases, 1 case was successed by only Duckett's method and 3 cases needed 2nd operation. But, it was emphasized that the island flap one-stage hypospadias technique was worth trying and the addition of skill in technique would satisfactory results.
Female ; Hypospadias* ; Male

A review was presented in 4 cases of one-stage Duckett's method for hypospadia which was experienced in our hospital. Of 4 cases, 1 case was successed by only Duckett's method and 3 cases needed 2nd operation. But, it was emphasized that the island flap one-stage hypospadias technique was worth trying and the addition of skill in technique would satisfactory results.
Female ; Hypospadias* ; Male

PURPOSE: A survey was performed to identify the level of mouthguard use, awareness, wearability issues and attitude toward mouthguard among elite Korean Taewondo athletes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Survey questionnaires were given to 152 athletes participating in the Korea National Taekwondo team selection event for the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. Questionnaires consisted of three sections, mouthguard awareness, reasons for not wearing mouthguard and the last section to test the level of acceptance on current mouthguard and when the identified problems were resolved. For analyzing difference among response, chi2 test was used and significant level (alpha) was set up as 0.05. RESULTS: Responses in each of items showed significant difference (P<.001). Majority of response regarding each question: Majority of respondents believed that mouthguard were effective in preventing injuries (36.4%) but the result suggested that the provision of information on mouthguard to athletes was inadequate (44.0%) and the result showed that respondents were not greatly interested or concerned in relation to the mandatory mouthguard rule (31.6%). Although the responses on the level of comfort and wearability of mouthguard were negative (34.8%), athletes were positively willing to wear mouthguard if the problems rectified (51.2%). CONCLUSION: Considering the high level of willingness to wear mouthguard if the problems rectified, it is thought that together with efforts in providing more mouthguard information, the work of sports dentistry to research and improve mouthguard will be invaluable in promoting mouthguard to more athletes.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Athletes ; Dentistry ; Humans ; Korea ; Martial Arts ; Mouth Protectors ; Sports ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Sweet's syndrome was originally described as an "acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis". Sweet's syndrome presents in three clinically settings: (1) classical or idiopathic Sweet's syndrome, (2) malignancyassociated or paraneoplastic Sweet's syndrome, (3) drug-induced Sweet's syndrome. Sweet's syndrome is known to respond well to systemic corticosteroids, and mortal case associated without any other predisposing factors is hardly found. Twenty-nine year old male was transferred from local clinic with the chief complaint of recurrent thrombophlebitis which occurred 10 days ago after IV treatment of antibiotics for burn. The symptom did not get well with conventional treatment for the thrombophlebitis such as antibiotics or drainage. After several days of pyrexia, the patient died suddenly. Grossly abnormal findings including pulmonary thrombus which could explain sudden death were not found. Disseminated intravascular microthrombi was the most peculiar finding. It was prominent in small sized vein, and lung was the most severely affected. Heart and liver were also involved. Large thrombi within deep vein of the legs were also noted. Minor collections of inflammatory cells, even apart from the main lesion, were noted in skin adnexa or small vessles within aorta wall. No tumorous area was found. The disseminated intravascular coagulation, which was associated with vasculitis was thought to be the direct cause of death. Several points about the Sweet's syndrome including the unusualness of this case were discussed.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Aorta ; Burns ; Causality ; Cause of Death ; Death, Sudden ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Drainage ; Fever ; Heart ; Humans ; Leg ; Liver ; Lung ; Male ; Neutrophils ; Skin ; Sweet Syndrome* ; Thrombophlebitis ; Thrombosis ; Vasculitis ; Veins

BACKGROUND: Nasal pyramid fractures accompanied by saddle nose deformities are not easily corrected by closed reduction. We used an absorbable plate as a perpendicular strut to support the collapsed "keystone area" and obtained good results. METHODS: Between September 2008 and June 2011, 18 patients who had nasal pyramid fractures with saddle nose deformities underwent surgery. Pre- and postoperative facial computed tomographic images and photographs were taken to estimate outcomes. The operative technique included the mucoperichondrial dissection of the nasal septum, insertion of an absorbable plate prepared to an appropriate length to support the "keystone area", and fixation of the absorbable plate strut to the cartilaginous septum. RESULTS: Functional and esthetic outcomes were satisfactory in all patients. Eleven patients assessed the postoperative appearance of the external nose as 'markedly improved' and 7 patients as 'improved'. The 5 surgeons scored the results as a mean of 4.5 on a 5-point scale. CONCLUSIONS: The use of an absorbable plate as a perpendicular strut requires no additional procedures because the plate is gradually absorbed. The mechanical strength provided by a buttress between the "keystone area" and the maxillary crest lasts for a long time before the strut is absorbed.
Absorbable Implants ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Fractures, Closed ; Humans ; Nasal Bone ; Nasal Septum ; Nose

The increasing prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in the human population in the Republic of Korea (= Korea) is due to various reasons such as an increase in meat consumption. However, the importance of cats in transmitting T. gondii infection through oocysts to humans has seldom been assessed. A total of 300 fecal samples of stray cats captured around Seoul from June to August 2013 were examined for T. gondii B1 gene (indicating the presence of oocysts) using nested-PCR. Fourteen (4.7%) of 300 cats examined were positive for B1 gene. Female cats (7.5%) showed a higher prevalence than male cats (1.4%). Cats younger than 3 months (5.5%) showed a higher prevalence than cats (1.5%) older than 3 months. For laboratory passage of the positive samples, the fecal suspension (0.2 ml) of B1 gene positive cats was orally inoculated into experimental mice. Brain tissues of the mice were obtained after 40 days and examined for the presence of tissue cysts. Two isolates were successfully passaged (designated KNIH-1 and KNIH-2) and were molecularly analyzed using the SAG5D and SAG5E gene sequences. The SAG5D and SAG5E gene sequences showed high homologies with the ME49 strain (less virulent strain). The results indicated the importance of stray cats in transmitting T. gondii to humans in Korea, as revealed by detection of B1 gene in fecal samples. T. gondii isolates from cats were successfully passaged in the laboratory for the first time in Korea.
Animals ; Cat Diseases/diagnosis/epidemiology/*parasitology ; Cats ; Feces/*parasitology ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Protozoan Proteins/genetics ; Seoul/epidemiology ; Toxoplasma/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Toxoplasmosis/epidemiology/parasitology/transmission ; Toxoplasmosis, Animal/diagnosis/epidemiology/*parasitology

Thoracic disc herniation is a rare condition in which a posterior approach, extrapleural approach, posterolateral approach, or transthoracic approach is currently used. The posterior approach is not recommended in thoracic disc herniation surgery because of the risk of spinal cord injury. The transthoracic approach makes it possible to remove the intervertebral disc and is considered a standard method. However, due to an extensive transverse skin incision, division of the latissimus dorsi muscles, and rib resection, the conventional open approaches involve a risk of complications, such as infection and post-thoracotomy pain syndrome; and a long period of rehabilitation and recovery is required. Excision of the intervertebral disc under thoracoscopic guidance can reduce the damage to the skin and muscles, but the equipment and surgical materials are expensive and a long learning curve is required. Therefore, we report a case and a new muscle splitting transthoracic approach that can be performed by incising 10 cm of skin longitudinally and preserving the serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi muscles.
Intervertebral Disc ; Learning Curve ; Muscles ; Rehabilitation ; Ribs ; Skin ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Superficial Back Muscles*

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to understand the experience and adjustment process of organ transplantation recipients in Korea, using grounded theory method. METHODS: Eight patients after liver transplantation and two patients after heart transplantation were selected for this study, for whom minimum follow-up duration was at least 6 months after transplantation. Data was collected from July to November 2005 through in-depth individual interviews either at home or hospital. The data were analyzed using a constant comparative method in which new data was continuously coded into categories and properties. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed that "safekeeping the graft" was the core category in experience of organ transplantation recipients. In order to safekeep transplanted organ, recipients used seven different strategies to deal with various problems and conflicts which occurred during the recovery process: 1) altering the role function of family, 2) complying the treatment regimen, 3) developing the know-how for self-care, 4) returning to the normal life, 5) keeping the positive thinking, 6) concerning for the donor, and 7) improving the self-fulfillment. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provided deep understanding on the recovery process after organ transplantation and these would help establishing more appropriate intervention to improve quality of life for organ transplantation recipients.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Transplantation ; Humans ; Korea* ; Liver Transplantation ; Organ Transplantation* ; Qualitative Research ; Quality of Life ; Self Care ; Social Adjustment ; Statistics as Topic ; Thinking ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants*