SS-cream is a topical agent for treating the premature ejaculation (PE) which was made up with extracts of 9 oriental herbs (Ginseng Radix alba, Angelicae gigantic Radix, Cistanchis Herba, Zanthoxylli Fructus, Torilidis Semen, Asiasari Radix, Caryophylli Flos, Cinnamoni Cortex and Bufonis Veneum). According to the active compositions, the main mechanism of SS- cream on PE was thought to be the local desensitizing effect. In order to realize the pharmacological action of SS-cream on PE, we performed the corneal sensitivity test with SS- cream and lidocaine in the rabbit (n=80). Both SS-cream and lidocaine inhibited the pin-prick induced corneal reflex dose-dependently (p<0.001). The anesthetic effect of lidocaine was appeared 5 minutes after the application and the duration of action persisted for 10 minutes. The intensities of desensitizing effect of SS- cream were almost same with those of 2% lidocaine, but the time of onset and duration of action was longer than 2% lidocaine. The time of onset was 10 minutes and the duration of action was persisted for more than 30 minutes. There were no local histopathologic changes after the application of SS-cream and lidocaine. With these result, we can conclude that SS-cream has a desensitizing effect on the cornea of rabbit. The believed main pharmacologic mechanism of SS-cream on PE is the desensitization of the Local Surface sensitivity.
Anesthetics ; Angelica ; Cornea* ; Lidocaine ; Premature Ejaculation ; Reflex ; Semen

Varicocele is found in 8-20% of male population and comprises the most common etiology of male infertility. Abnormalities in sperm concentration, motility, and morphology are observed on 65 to 75% of varicocele patients. Improvements of such parameters are seen in 50 - 80% after surgical correction of varicocele, and fertility is achieved in 30 -40% of cases. We evaluated the results of surgical correction of varicocele in both infertile and non-infertile patients. The effects of varicocele and subsequent correction on semen parameters and pregnancy were also reviewed. From September 1987 to December 1995, 254 patients with varicocele were surgically corrected. Semen analysis were performed in 229 patients, revealing abnormalities in 153 (66.8%) patients. Degree of abnormalities was correlated with the grade of varicocele and presence of infertility (79.8%). Improvement of postoperative semen was observed in 112 (73.2%) of 153 patients with abnormal preoperative semen profiles. Improvement was not correlated with grade of varicocele or age, but significantly correlated with fertility status. Postoperative sperm concentration, morphology, and motility were significantly improved in grade II and III varicocele. Sperm motility was improved when correction were performed under 30 years of age. Pregnancy was confirmed in 27 of 88 (30.7%) of infertile patients, and fertility rate was correlated with preoperative sperm concentration and motility, but not correlated with varicocele grade and sperm morphology. Higher pregnancy rate was observed if sperm concentration >=40 X 106/ml, normal morphology >= 60%, and motility >=60% on the postoperative semen. In conclusion, varicocele patients with infertility are affected by grade, age, and surgical correction. Thus early diagnosis and treatment should be offered to all patients with varicocele with infertility.
Birth Rate ; Early Diagnosis ; Fertility ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Semen Analysis ; Semen* ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; Varicocele*

Campomelic dysplasia (CMD) is a rare, often lethal, genetic disorder characterized by multiple congenital anomalies and abnormal development of the reproductive organs in males. Mutations in the SOX9 gene are known to cause CMD. We present a Korean CMD girl with a normal 46,XX karyotype and a female reproductive organ phenotype. She was born at 2.35 kg at 38 weeks of gestation and showed characteristic phenotypes, including cleft palate, micrognathia, hypertelorism, flat nasal bridge, congenital bowing of limbs, hypoplastic scapulae, deformed pelvis, and 11 pairs of ribs. She also had an atrioseptal defect of the heart and marked laryngotracheomalacia requiring tracheostomy and tracheopexy. SOX9 mutation analysis revealed the presence of a novel nonsense mutation, p.Gln369*, and the patient was genetically confirmed to have CMD. Although she showed marked failure to thrive and neurodevelopmental delay, she is now 40 months of age and is the only surviving patient with CMD in Korea.
Campomelic Dysplasia ; Cleft Palate ; Codon, Nonsense ; Extremities ; Failure to Thrive ; Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertelorism ; Karyotype ; Korea ; Male ; Pelvis ; Phenotype ; Pregnancy ; Ribs ; Scapula ; Tracheostomy

Campomelic dysplasia (CMD) is a rare, often lethal, genetic disorder characterized by multiple congenital anomalies and abnormal development of the reproductive organs in males. Mutations in the SOX9 gene are known to cause CMD. We present a Korean CMD girl with a normal 46,XX karyotype and a female reproductive organ phenotype. She was born at 2.35 kg at 38 weeks of gestation and showed characteristic phenotypes, including cleft palate, micrognathia, hypertelorism, flat nasal bridge, congenital bowing of limbs, hypoplastic scapulae, deformed pelvis, and 11 pairs of ribs. She also had an atrioseptal defect of the heart and marked laryngotracheomalacia requiring tracheostomy and tracheopexy. SOX9 mutation analysis revealed the presence of a novel nonsense mutation, p.Gln369*, and the patient was genetically confirmed to have CMD. Although she showed marked failure to thrive and neurodevelopmental delay, she is now 40 months of age and is the only surviving patient with CMD in Korea.
Campomelic Dysplasia ; Cleft Palate ; Codon, Nonsense ; Extremities ; Failure to Thrive ; Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertelorism ; Karyotype ; Korea ; Male ; Pelvis ; Phenotype ; Pregnancy ; Ribs ; Scapula ; Tracheostomy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Parapharyngeal space tumors are extremely rare head and neck tumors. Therefore, there are just a few reports about them. The purpose of this study was to report our experiences of parapharyngeal space (PPS )tumors regarding clinicopathological features and management. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: This study included 51 patients with PPS tumors which were diagnosed from January 1990 through June 2004. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The male-to-female ratio was close to 1:1. The mean age was 47 years (6 mo -83 Y ). The most frequent presenting manifestation was asymptomatic neck mass. All patients were subjected to CT scan, while 31 patients underwent MRI in addition. Diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology of 28 cases matched with pathologic reports by 50%. Salivary gland neoplasms occupied the biggest parts (43.1%, 53.8%)of both benign and malignant PPS tumors. Thirteen patients (25.5%)had malignant lesions. Surgical excision was performed in 39 cases (76.5%). The transcervical (30.8%)and the transcervical-transparotid approaches (38.5%)were commonly performed surgical procedures. Overall postoperative morbidity rate was 23.1%. There were 3 recur-rences (42.8%)in malignant tumors and no recurrence in benign ones after surgical excision during the mean follow-up period of 35 months (13 -89 mo ). Close observation, sclerotherapy and radiotherapy were only applicable for a few selected benign lesions. CONCLUSION: Most benign PPS tumors could be removed surgically with low complication and recurrence rates. Optimal surgical approach based on transcervical approach allows safe removal of various types of PPS tumors.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medical Records ; Neck ; Neurilemmoma ; Paraganglioma ; Parotid Neoplasms ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; Sclerotherapy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed