No abstract available.
Postal Service* ; Surveys and Questionnaires*

No abstract available.

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

The authors studied EBV genome expression in 40 conventionally processed samples of nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC), using in situ hybridization for EBERs and immunohistochemistry for LMP, Bcl-2 and p53 proteins. The NPCs consisted of 6 keratinizing squamous cell carcinomas (KSCs), 13 nonkeratinizing carcinomas (NKCs) and 21 undifferentiated carcinomas (UCs). The results were summarized as follows: 1) EBERs were expressed in 80.0% of all the NPCs (32/40). As for the subtypes, they were detected in 92.3% of NKCs (12/13), in 90.5% of the UCs (19/21), and in 16.7% of the KSCs (1/6). In positive cases, the nuclei of tumor cells displayed uniformly strong staining. 2) LMP was expressed in 10.0% of all the NPCs (4/40), all of which were UC. The LMP expression in the UCs was not correlated to the expression of EBERs, Bcl-2 and p53 proteins. 3) Bcl-2 protein was detected in 85.0% of all the NPCs (34/40). As for the subtypes, they were detected in 92.3% of the NKCs (12/13), in 90.5% of the UCs (19/21), and in 50.0% of the KSCs (3/6). 4) p53 protein was detected in 75.0% of all the NPCs (30/40). As for the subtypes, they were detected in 81.0% of the UCs (17/21), in 69.2% of the NKCs (9/13), and in 66.7% of the KSCs (4/6). 5) In the NPCs the expression of EBER showed a significantly positive correlation with that of p53 or Bcl-2 protein. The above results indicate that the association of EBV with NPC is chiefly with poorly differentiated and undifferentiated carcinomas. Additionally, carcinomas commonly display widespread, strong immunoreactivity of Bcl-2 and p53 proteins over tumor cells. In conclusion, these observations indicate that the EBV-association in NPC appears to contribute to the overexpression of tumor-related genes during carcinogenesis.
Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Genome ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization

A case of gouty polyarthropathy accompanied with carpal tunnel syndrom is reporte, in a 70 year old man. The patient was treated by removal of tophaceous materials surgically in both knee and right wrist joints for the relief of pain. There was a relatively good result postoperatively in the aspect of pain free motion of joints, but he was died of the complication of gouty nephropathy 4 months later after discharge.
Arthritis ; Gout ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Wrist ; Wrist Joint

OBJECTIVES: Anticardiolipin antibody (ACA) and lupus anticoagulant (LA) are acquired antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs), which are regarded as important risk factors far vascular thrombosis and recurrent fetal loss. Although the clinical relevance of APAs in dialysis patients is uncertain, recent studies have suggested that APAs are involved in bioincompatibility and thrombogenic complications in hemadialysis (HD) patients. METHOD: We performed a cross sectional study of ACA and LA in 50 stable HD patients and their 68 vascular accesses (52 native arteriovenous fistulae and 16 synthetic arterovenous grafts), with the analysis of factors associated with the presence of APAs and the retrospective evaluation of vascular access occlusion (VAO). LA was assessed by platelet neutralization method whereas IgG-ACA was measured by a solid phase ELISA. Values higher than 23GPLU/ml (IgG phospholipid units) were considered to be positive for IgG-ACA and positive values for LA was more than 8 seconds in prolongation of the clotting time with human platelet lysate. Vascular access survival was assessed by Kaplan- Meier method, RESULTS: The mean age of the subject (M:F 21:29) was 46 years and the mean duration of hemodialysis was 49 months. The frequency of VAO in entire subjects was 0.45+/-0.98 episodes/patient year. The median value of IgG-ACA was 16.0 GPLU/ml with a distribution from 2.7 to 46.1GPLU/ ml. The median titer of I.A was 4.5 (3.1-45.6) seconds. Fourteen patients (28%) were found to have at least one episode of VAO. In spite of comparable clinical and biochemical data according to the presence of VAO, the titers of IgG-ACA (13.6+/-7.7 vs, 20.3+/-8.7GPLIJ/ml, P<0.05) and LA (4.5+/-2.9 vs. 11.7 +/-12.6sec, P<0.05) were significantly higher in VAO group. Six out of 50 patients(12%) had an increased titer of IgG-ACA and LA was found in 11 patients(22%). No patients were positive for ACA and LA simultaneously. There was no significant difference in sex, etiology of ESRD, diabetic status, the dosage of heparin during HD or the amount of erythropoietin administered according to the presence of APAs. We could not find any significant correlation between the titer of APAs and age, duration of dialysis, blood pressure, platelet count and biochemical parameters. In the patients with positive ACA, the frequency of VAO was 1.05+/-0.12 episodes/patient year, which was significantly higher than patients without ACA (0.33+/-0.17 episodes/ patient year, P<0.05). In the patients with the presence of LA(1.06+/-0.43 vs. 0.12+/-0.06 episodes/ patients year, P<0.01). The median vascular access survival time in IgG-ACA positive patients (32.7 months) was significantly decreased compared to 66.8 months in IgG-ACA negative group. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the presence of APAs (ACA and/or LA) affects the event-free vascular access survival in HD patients. Therefore the evaluation of APAs status have to be included in the diagnostic strategies for the patients with recurrent VAO. Further studies are necessary to explore the pharmacologic intervention method to decrease APAs and prevent VAO in HD patients.
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin* ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Blood Platelets ; Blood Pressure ; Dialysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Erythropoietin ; Heparin ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor* ; Platelet Count ; Renal Dialysis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis

The present study was intended to examine the effect of sodium vanadate on contractility of vascular smooth muscle. Aortic ring preparations were made from the rabbit thoracic aorta and endothelial cells were removed from the ring. The contractility of the aortic ring was measured under various conditions. The results were summarized as follows; 1) Sodium vanadate induced contraction of vascular smooth muscle in a dose-dependent fashion. 2) The contractile effects were not blocked by treatments with adrenergic blocking agent(phentolamine) and indomethacin, indicating the direct action of the drug on vascular smooth muscle. 3) In the presence of ouabain, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase inhibitor, sodium vanadate still increased the contractility of vascular smooth muscle. 4) Treatment with 4.4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2.2'-disulfonic acid(DIDS) blocked completely the contractile effects of sodium vanadate. 5) In the presence of verapamil, lanthanum and ryanodine, the contractility of the vascular smooth muscle by sodium vanadate was decreased. From the above results. it was suggested that sodium vanadate acts directly on vascular smooth muscle and causes contraction. It was probably due to inhibition of Ca(++)-ATPase in plasma membrane as well as increasing the release of Ca(++) from sarcoplasmic reticulum and Ca(++) influx across the plasma membrane, but not inhibition of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Cell Membrane ; Endothelial Cells ; Indomethacin ; Lanthanum ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Ouabain ; Ryanodine ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum ; Sodium* ; Vanadates* ; Verapamil

No abstract available.
Evoked Potentials* ; Intercostal Nerves* ; Neural Conduction*

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