This article discusses the development of early acupuncture needles as demonstrated by the artifacts excavated from the Northern part of the Yanji district, Jilin, China, during the Japanese colonial era (reported in 1941). Numerous bone needles, stone needles, and other medical devices were found in the Xiaoyingzi excavation. The stone needles from Xiaoyingzi can be categorized into three grades, based on length, of 8cm, 12–15cm, and 18cm. A set of round stones for massage were also discovered, along with obsidian blades. These relics were carefully stored in the middle of the body in the stone coffin. In addition to Xiaoyingzi, stone needles were also excavated along the lower valley region of the Tuman (Tumen, 豆滿) River. These facts indicate that the owner was involved in medical practice, and that medical procedures using stone needles were quite popular at the time. This article carefully investigates that the relics have nothing to do with weaving textile or military use. Current research on the origin of acupuncture has been confined either to stone needles from the prehistoric age or to bronze needles, as well as to literature from the Warring States period to the Han China, during which acupuncture technology was considerably expanded. However, substantial knowledge on the “gap” between stone needles and metal needles has been procured through the analysis of Xiaoyingzi, Yanji. The findings of Xiaoyingzi are also significant in providing a more detailed reconstruction of the development of acupuncture in East Asia and emergence of acupuncture throughout history. A large amount of medical items (stone and bone needles, cases for needles, massage stone type bianshi, and etc.), have been excavated from Xiaoyingzi and other neighbouring sites, Along with geographic and ecological factors, this archeological data strongly suggests the medical tradition of using acupuncture needles was practiced around Tumen River basin in the Bronze Age (10th century B.C.).
Acupuncture* ; Artifacts ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Far East ; Humans ; Massage ; Military Personnel ; Needles ; Rivers ; Textiles

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical outcomes of intrauterine insemination (IUI) according to the catheter used. MATERIALS AND METHOD: From March 1998 to September 1998, total 95 infertile patients were included in this study. Patients were randomly allocated to TomCat group (n = 39) and Mackler group (n = 56) according to the catheter for insemination. The controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) using luteal long protocol of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) was used in all patients. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test, Fisher's exact test, and x2 test as appropriate. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. RESULTS: The total dose and duration of exogeneous gonadotropin required were similar between the two groups. There were also no significant differences in serum estradiol (E2) level, endometrial thickness and texture on the day of hCG administration between the two groups. However, the percentage of uterine souding due to failure of initial approach was significantly higher in TomCat group compared to Mackler group (23.1% vs. 0%, p < 0.01). The percentage of bleeding after IUI in TomCat group seemed to be higher than that in Mackler group (15.4% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.06), although there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. There was also no significant difference in the clinical pregnancy rate per patient between the two groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that using Mackler catheter might be effective for IUI, especially for the patients with cervical factor infertility.
Catheters* ; Estradiol ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infertility ; Insemination* ; Pregnancy Rate

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the efficacy of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for totally unfertilized oocytes by the conventional insemination during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) METHODS: From March 1996 to April 1998, 15 couples who experienced total fertilization failure after conventional IVF without severe male factor infertility in semen analysis were evaluated. Fertilization were assessed by the presence of 2 pronucleus (PN) after 14-16 hours of conventional insemination. All unfertilized oocytes were reinseminated by ICSI and checked for signs of fertilization between 6-10 hours after ICSI. The embryos with fertilization and development were transferred to the uterine cavity and the outcome was analyzed. RESULTS: Total numbers of unfertilized oocytes were 120, and total numbers of oocytes injected on day 1 using ICSI were 102. Total numbers of oocytes with normal fertilization after ICSI were 74 and mean fertilization rate of 71.1 +/- 24.0% was obtained. The numbers of embryos transferred was 3.6 +/- 1.7. The biochemical pregnancy rate was 13.3% (2/15) and the clinical pregnancy rate was 6.7% (1/15) per cycle. CONCLUSION: ICSI to totally unfertilized oocytes by conventional insemination technique during IVF-ET on the next day of oocyte retrieval seems to be a relatively successful mean and afford a chance of pregnancy to the infertile couples whom the ET could not perfomed to because of total fertilization failure."
Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Structures ; Family Characteristics ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infertility ; Insemination ; Male ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Oocytes* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic*

OBJECTIVES: To examine the in vitro interactions of blastocyst attachment using type I collagen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ICR mice were used and follicular growth was stimulated by pregnant mare serum gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin. On day 4 of pregnancy, the uteri were removed and blastocysts were flushed. Mixtures of 1mL sterile water, 0.5mL DMEM, 2mL type collagen solution and 0.5mL 0.1M NaOH were prepared and transferred to an incubator where the collagen solution polymerized. Blastocysts were transferred to dishes previously coated with type I collagen. CMRL 1066 was used as the basic culture medium. It was supplemented with 1mM glutamine and 1mM sodium pyruvate plus 50 IU/ml penicillin and 50 mg/ml streptomycin. During the first 4 days the culture medium was supplemented with 20% fetal calf serum and thereafter with 20% heat inactivated human cord serum. All blastocysts were initially cultured for 2 days without media change. After 2 days, fresh medium was renewed daily. The stages of embryo growth were examined and recorded everyday under a dissecting microscope and classified according to the standard in vivo criteria set forth by Witschi. RESULTS: By 48h, nearly all blastocysts had attached to the surface of collagen pad. Following adhesion to the collagen pad, the blastocysts maintained their 3-dimensional integrity in contrast to control. The embryos in collagen pad were not flattening and kept polarity and spherical shape during culture. The polar trophoblast invaded the type I collagen downward unlike the horizontal growth in control. In the developmental stage of mouse blastocyst, there were significant differences between control and type I collagen group during day 4 and 5 culture. CONCLUSION: Blastocyst development was better in type I collagen group than control. Therefore, in vitro culture study using type I collagen could provide improved model for the establishment of blastocyst implantation study.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I* ; Embryo Implantation ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Glutamine ; Gonadotropins ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Incubators ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Penicillins ; Polymers ; Pregnancy ; Pyruvic Acid ; Sodium ; Streptomycin ; Trophoblasts ; Uterus ; Water

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2, 9 (MMP-2, 9) mRNA in mouse embryos. Materials and METHOD: From October 1997 to December 1998, morula stage mouse embryos were cultured for 48 hours with G-CSF and GM-CSF at concentrations of 0.1 pg/ml, 1 pg/ml, 10 pg/ml, 100 pg/ml, 1 ng/ml and 10 ng/ml, respectively. Embryos not treated with G-CSF or GM-CSF were served as control. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been used to examine the expression of MMP-2, 9 mRNA in developed blastocysts. Following reverse transcription, strategically designed nested primers, optimized for specificity, were used for amplification from the cDNA equivalent of a single embryo. The products were then verified by restriction enzyme digestion and sequence analysis. Results were analyzed with Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The statistical significance was defined as p< 0.05. RESULTS: The relative quantities (relative volume x intensity) of MMP-2 mRNA expressed in embryos of all G-CSF treatment groups were significantly increased than in the control, especially in 10, 100 pg/ml and 1 ng/ml treatment groups. The relative quantities of MMP-2 mRNA in all GM-CSF treatment groups were also significantly increased than in the control, especially in 100 pg/ml treatment group. The relative quantities of MMP-9 mRNA of all GM-CSF treatment groups except 10 ng/ml group were significantly increased than in the control, especially 10, 100 pg/ml and 1 ng/ml treatment group. However, the relative quantity of MMP-9 mRNA was significantly increased in only 10 ng/ml G-CSF treatment group than in the control and other treatment groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that G-CSF and GM-CSF may increase the m-RNA expression of MMP-2 or 9 in mouse blastocysts with the concentration-specific manner.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Colony-Stimulating Factors* ; Digestion ; DNA, Complementary ; Embryonic Structures* ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor* ; Granulocytes* ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2* ; Mice* ; Morula ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sequence Analysis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the basal serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in the presence of normal serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) are useful as a prognostic indicator of ovarian response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). METHODS: From January 1997 to January 1999, 91 infertile women with tubal factor who had undergone in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were enrolled in the present study. COH was performed using long protocol of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist. All patients included in this study had blood samples drawn on cycle day 2 or 3 prior to COH for measurement of basal FSH and LH. Women who had other infertility factors or high basal FSH levels (> or = 8.5 mIU/ml) were excluded from this study. The results of COH and IVF-ET were compared between two groups according to the level of basal LH (low LH group [< 3mIU/ml] vs. control group [> or = 3mIU/ml]). RESULTS: Patient's characteristics were comparable in both groups except basal LH level. The number of ampules and duration of exogenous gonadotropins required were significantly higher in the low LH group than those in the control group (p<0.001; p<0.005, respectively). The number of follicles > or = 14mm diameter on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection was significantly less in the low LH group than that in the control group (p<0.001). The serum estradiol level on the day of hCG injection was also significantly lower in the low LH group, with 1115.5 +/- 380.9 pg/ml compared with 1340.6 +/- 403.0 pg/ml in the control group (p<0.005). There were significantly lower numbers in oocytes retrieved, oocytes fertilized and embryos frozen in the low LH group than those in the control group (< 0.001; < 0.001; <0.005, respectively). However, there was no difference in the fertilization rate between the two groups. The clinical pregnancy rate per cycle seemed to be lower in the low LH group, but the difference did not achieve significance (26.2% vs 39.7%). There were no differences in the miscarriage rate and multiple pregnancy rate between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the low basal LH levels ( < 3 mIU/ml) could be predictive of low ovarian response to COH and poor IVF results.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Structures ; Estradiol ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Infertility ; Lutein* ; Luteinizing Hormone* ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy, Multiple

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the somatostatin analogue, octreotide, given concunently with human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) affects ovarian response, ovulation induction outcome, and serum levels of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in infertile patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) resistant to clomiphene citrate (CC). METHODS: From August 1996 to June 1998, 42 infertile patients with PCOS urresponsive to CC were enrolled in the present study. Women who had other infertility factors were excluded from this study. Patients were randomly allocated either to combined HMG and octreotide treatment (treatment group) (n=21) or HMG alone (control group) (n=21). In the treatment group, 100 micrograms of octreotide were administered daily concomitantly with HMG from the 3rd day of menstrual cycle to the preceding day of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) injection. RESULTS: Patient's characteristics were comparable in both groups. One cycle in the control group was abandoned because of excessive follicular development. However, none of the cycles in the treatment group was abandoned. There were no differences in the number of HMG ampules required and the duration of HMG administration between the two groups. The number of follicles > 14mm diameter on the day of HCG injection was significantly less in the treatment group than that in the control group (p<0.01). The serum estradiol level on the day of HCG injection was also significantly lower in the treatment group, with 1391.0 +/- 695.5 pg/ml compared with 2217.5 +/- 811.6pg/ml in the control group (p<0.001). The incidence of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome seemed to be lower in the treatment group, but the difference did not achieve significance (4.9% vs 23.8%). There were no differences in the clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate and multiple pregnancy rate between the two groups. Although serum GH levels were comparable between the two groups, serum IGF-1 level on the day of HCG injection was significantly higher in the treatment gmup than that in the control group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the combined octreotide and HMG treatment could improve hormonal milieu and folliculogenesis compared to HMG alone, and therefore may be effective in ovulation induction for patients with PCOS resistant to CC.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Clomiphene ; Estradiol ; Female ; Gonadotropins ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infertility ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Menstrual Cycle ; Octreotide ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome ; Ovulation Induction* ; Ovulation* ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Somatostatin*

Many authors have been reported that the abdominal trauma, especially injury of the liver and spleen, is frequently found with lower rib fractures, below the ninth rib fractures and the incidence was about 20 to 30%. In cases of rib fractures, Intra- abdominal organs may be injured in the higher rib fractures than the ninth because the diaphragm is elevated at the level of filth intercostal space in expiration period and the intra-abdominal lesions are often delayed evaluated due to the pain of the fractures and masked by the other injuries of the head and the extremities. So above reasons, we were often questioned what the level of rib fracture we must evaluate the intra-abdominal injury was? So we investigated 452 patients with rib fractures who visited our emergency medical center from 1995, January to 1996, December and divided into two groups according to the prescience of intra-abdominal organ injuries by each the level of rib fractures. The number of patients with intra-abdominal organ injuries were 75(16.6%) and the most frequently damaged organ was the liver(25 cases, 33.3%). We calculated the statistical values of each level of rib fractures by the Chi-Square method and got a result that the level of rib fracture we must evaluate the intra-abdominal injuries was the sixth rib fracture. Therefore, if we will meet the patients with rib fracture below the sixth, we must have attentions to the intra-abdominal injuries and evaluate the abdomen closely with various diagnostic methods.
Abdomen ; Attention ; Diaphragm ; Emergencies ; Extremities ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver ; Masks ; Rib Fractures* ; Ribs* ; Spleen

Palisaded, encapsulated neuroma is characterized clinically by a solitary, slowly-growing and dome-shaped papule or nodule, usually accompanied by telangiectasia on the surface, and histopathologically by an encapsulated nodule in the dermis and the palisading arrangement of nuclei. A 57-year-old female patient presented with a 1cm-sized, solitary nodule on the right ala nasi which had been present for about 5 years. The nodule had a tendency to slow growth and it became a polypoid nodule. Telangiectasia was shown on the surface of the lesion. Histopathlogical findings showed a well-defined and encapsulated nodule in the dermis, composed of spindle cells with basophilic and plump nuclei in a palisading fashion. On immunohistochemical staining, the tumor cells of the nodule were positive for S-100 protein, while the capsule of the nodule was negative for S-100 protein. Epithelial membrane antigens were focally positive only on the capsule of the nodule. We report herein a case of palisaded, encapsulated neuroma, one case of which has been reported in Korea.
Basophils ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; Neuroma* ; S100 Proteins ; Telangiectasis

Elastofibroma is a rare disease which presents as a slowly-growing, solid, ill-defined fibroelastic mass occuring almost exclusively in elderly women and arising mainly from the connective tissue between the lower part of the scapula and chest wall. Of the 270 cases of elastofibroma which have been reported, 170 cases had developed in Japanese patients. Despite the fact that there have been only two case reports in Korea, there might be a higher prevalence of elastofibroma in Korea than expected because of geographical similarity. We experienced a case of elastofibroma occurring in a 56-year-old man. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of elastofibroma in Korean dermatologic of literature.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Connective Tissue ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Rare Diseases ; Scapula ; Thoracic Wall