OBJECTIVE: The effects on spermatogenesis by expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Testicular specimens were obtained from 40 infertile males due to primary testicular failure and from 10 fertile males with other urologic problems. The specimens of infertile males were devided into 4 groups according to histologic findings; Sertoli cell only syndrome (A), maturation arrest (B), hypospermatogenesis (C) and sloughing and disorganization (D). VEGF and ET-1 expression were detected with immunohistochemical stain. RESULTS: VEGF expression on Leydig cell was detected in all cases. But, VEGF expression rates on germ cell were significantly higher in infertile group B, C, D compared to that of the control group (p<0.05). ET-1 expression rates on Leydig cell was significantly lower in all infertile group compared to that of the control group (p<0.05). But, ET-1 expression rates on Sertoli cell was significantly higher in all infertile group compared to that of the control group (p>0.05). In germ cell of infertile group, LH, FSH and prolactin were significantly decreased, and estradiol is increased in positive stain group on ET-1 immunohistochemical stain (p<0.05). VEGF and ET-1 expression were not correlated mean seminiferous tubule diameter (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal spermatogenesis would be reflected in VEGF expression in germ cell.
Endothelin-1* ; Estradiol ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; Prolactin ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

No abstract available.
Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung*

Various dermatological complications have been reported following the BCG vaccination although this vaccination has been recommended to all healthy infants in our country. A 4-months-old boy, who had a BCG vaccination three weeks after birth, developed erythematous papules and pustules on the whole body, especially on the face and upper extremities. Two erythematous subcutaneous soft nodules were also noted on the left side of the neck. A biopsy specimen from the right forearm revealed caseous necrosis surrounded by a granulomatous inflammation consisting of epithelioid cells and lymphocytes. It was centered along the axis of the damaged pilosebaceous follicle. No acid-fast bacilli could be demonstrated by AFB stain. A marked improvement of his skin eruptions was observed after anti-tuberculosis medication. However, nod-ules in the cervical area perforated spontaneously and healed leaving scars several months after the cutaneous eruptions subsided. The clinical and histologic findings and a good response to anti-tuberculous therapy support the diagnosis of papular tuberculid and suppurative lymphadenitis after BCG vaccination.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Biopsy ; Cicatrix ; Diagnosis ; Epithelioid Cells ; Forearm ; Humans ; Infant ; Inflammation ; Lymphadenitis* ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Neck ; Necrosis ; Parturition ; Skin ; Tuberculosis, Cutaneous* ; Upper Extremity ; Vaccination*

No abstract available.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices*

No abstract available.
Gallstones* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

No abstract available.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Hypertension, Portal*

A 26-year-old man presented with a bluish speckled patch on the dorsum of the left hand. It had apperaed at birth as a bluish spot. Since adolescence the lesion extended and at the time of visiting hospital it covered the most part of the dorsum of the left hand and even some palmar aspect. The histopathological and ultrastructural examination revealed numerous dermal melanocytes, mainly in the upper dermis. Clinically and pathologically, the patient was diagnosed as having dermal melanocyte hamartoma, a distinct type of dermal melanocytosis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Dermis ; Hamartoma* ; Hand ; Humans ; Melanocytes* ; Parturition

No abstract available.
Diazepam* ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives* ; Midazolam* ; Surgery, Plastic*

No abstract available.
Fatigue*

BACKGROUND: The HLA system is known to be the most polymorphic genetic system in human and there are characteristic racial differences in the distribution of HLA antigens, alleles, and haplotypes. This study was performed to examine the frequency of HLA antigens, alleles and haplotypes in Koreans. METHODS: Two thousand healthy Koreans registered for unrelated bone marrow donors were subject to the study. HLA-A, B and C antigens were typed by the serological method, and HLA-DR DNA typing (low resolution) was done by PCR and reverse hybridization. HLA allele and haplotype frequencies and linkage disequilibrium values were calculated by the maximun likelihood method using the computer program of the 11th International Histocompatibility Workshop. RESULTS: HLA antigens identified in 2000 Koreans were 14 in A locus, 33 in B locus, 8 in C locus and 12 in DR locus. Alleles showing frequencies of more than 10% in decreasing order of frequency In each HLA locus were A2, A24, A33, All, B44, B62; CBL, Cw3, Cwl, Cw7, DR4, DR2, DRl3, DR8, and DR9. Among A-B, C-B, B-DR 2-locus haplotypes, A33-B44, A30-B13, Al-B37, Cwl-B54, Cw4-B62, B7-DR1, B37-DR10 showed strong positive linkage disequilibrium (Chi-square > 1000). The most common A-B-DR haplotypes in Koreans occurring at frequency of more than 2% were A33-B44-DRl3 (4.8%), A33-B58-DRl3 (3.2%), A33-B44-DR7 (2.6%), All-B62-DR4 (2.3%), A24-B7-DR1 (2.3%), and A30-Bl3-DR7 (2.1%) Comparison of the distribution of A-B-DR haplotypes among east Asian populations reveals that Koreans are most close to Japanese, but show higher degree of polymorphism in the distribution of HLA haplotypes compared to Japanese. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained in this study can be used as basic data for Koreans in the fields of organ transplantation, disease association studies and anthropologic studies.
Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bone Marrow ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Education ; Haplotypes* ; Histocompatibility ; HLA Antigens* ; HLA-A Antigens ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Organ Transplantation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants