No abstract available.
Seasonal Affective Disorder* ; Seasons*

Immunohistochemical study have been made to examine the autonomic innervation of the human vas dererens following vasectomy one to 7 years previously. Samples from sites on the proximal (testicular) and distal (urethral) sides of the original vasectomy have been compared with control specimens as to the arrangement and distribution of autonomic nerves containing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), catecholamine, substance-P and enkephalin. In contrast with tissues from the urethral portion and from controls, the testicular specimens revealed a marked reduction in the catecholeminergic innervation of the muscular layer. In addition VIPergic nerves distributed at the subepithelial layer were nearly absent from the testicular side of the vas deferens. The degrees of denervation were independent of the obstructive interval between vasectomy and vasectomy reversal. Substance-P and enkephalin containing nerves were rarely found from both sides of the vas deferens. Therefore, these findings suggest that the consequences of denervation of vas deferens may play an important role in those patients in whom infertility persists despite evidence of satisfactory mechanical continuity achieved by vasectomy reversal.
Autonomic Pathways ; Denervation ; Enkephalins ; Humans* ; Infertility ; Vas Deferens* ; Vasectomy* ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; Vasovasostomy

The mechanisms involved in brain neuronal damage in ischemia are related to the elevation of cytosolic calcium concentration and calcium antagonist is considered as a promising drug that may alleviate ischemic neuronal damage. Using transient global ischemia model of Mongolian gerbil, we studied the effect of nimodipine, a cerebroselective calcium antagonist, on ischemic brain edema. We treated each gerbil intraperitoneally with nimodipine (lmg/kg) or the same amount of saline 30 minutes prior to ischemia, and transient global ischemia was induced by means of clipping both common carotid arteries either for 10 minutes or for 45 minutes. Three hours after reperfusion, the animals were decapitated and the water content of the bain was determined by oven dry method. With 10 minute ischemia the brain water content in nimodipine pretreatment group (78.6 +/- 0.2%) was lower than that in saline pretreatment group (79.1 +/- 0.4%) significantly (p<0.05). But with 45 minute ischemia nimodipine pretreatment did not reduce the postischemic increase of water content compared with saline pretreatment (79.8 +/- 0.4% and 79 6 +/- 0.4%, respectively; not significant). Our results suggest that nimodipine pretreatment may suppress the development of ischemic brain edema and its effect depends largely on the extent of brain ischemia.
Animals ; Brain Edema* ; Brain Ischemia ; Brain* ; Calcium ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Cytosol ; Gerbillinae* ; Ischemia ; Neurons ; Nimodipine* ; Reperfusion

No abstract available in English.
Female ; Humans ; Urinary Incontinence*

A 40-year-old man attended our hospital with presenting symptoms of an acutely swollen, tender testicle and bulging mass on the inguinal area. Considered it as urgent conditions no demonstrating blood flow to the involved testicle on Color Doppler ultrasonography, we underwent scrotal exploration right away. On operative finding the right testis was so enlarged and engorged secondarily to the irreversible ischemic damage, but torsion of spermatic cord was not found. Another inguinal approach revealed herniated mass protruding from internal inguinal ring and compressing the spermatic cord. For further evaluation abdominal ultrasonography and CT scan was done and huge mass occupying right lower quadrant of abdomen and pelvic cavity was noted. The resected tumor through surgical exploration was proved to be a retroperitoneal liposarcoma pathologically. Herein we report an uncommon case of testicular infarct, mimicking torsion of spermatic cord that is a urological emergency, caused by herniated retroperitoneal mass. So the present report suggest that, when adult men attend with symptoms of acutely swollen painful testicle, we pay a more careful attention to patient,s physical findings and recommend further diagnostic evaluation.
Abdomen ; Adult ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Inguinal Canal* ; Liposarcoma* ; Male ; Spermatic Cord ; Testis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

Neurofibromatosis, or von Recklinghausen's disease, is a hereditary, harmartomatous disorder that primarilyinvolves neuroectoderm and mesoderm. The estimated incidence is 1 in 2,500 to 3,000 births. The clinical featuresare skin manifestations such as cafe-au-lait spots, skeletal manifestations primarily in volving vertebrae,central and peripheral nervous manifestations, and other associated abnormalities with increased risk ofmalignancy. The authors analysed the radiologic findings of 18 cases of patients with neurofibromatosis whovisited Pusan Kosin Medical Center and Taegu Dongsan Medical Center during the last five years. All were proven bysurgery, biopsy and other diagnostic criteria. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The male ot female ratiowas 11:7 and the age ranged from 11 months to 51 years. 2. All the cases fulfilled the diagnotic criteria of Croweand associates. 3. Bone manifestations were present in 44% of the cases. The other radiologic findings wereintrathoracic meningocele, bilateral acoustic neurinomas, mediastinal or chest wall mass shadows, and peripheralsoft tissue masses. 4. One of the soft tissue masses was proved to be malignant.
Biopsy ; Busan ; Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Daegu ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Meningocele ; Mesoderm ; Neural Plate ; Neurofibromatoses ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Neurofibromatosis 2 ; Parturition ; Skin Manifestations ; Thoracic Wall

Acanthosis nigricans is characterized by hyperpigmented, velvety thickening of the skin of any part of the body and frequently associated with internal malignancy, endocrine diseases and obesity. In children, systemic abnormality rarely occur in associated with prepubertal Acanthosis nigricans. We experienced a case of idiopathic Acanthosis nigricans, and made a brief review of literatures.
Acanthosis Nigricans* ; Child ; Endocrine System Diseases ; Humans ; Obesity ; Skin

Many researchers report that the measurement of urine calcium concentration during antenatal period is helpful in prediction of having preeclampsia,but some don`t. The purpose of this clinical study is to evaluate the relationship of low calcium level in urine and the develpoment of preeclampsia, and effects of other variables. 24hour urine were collected and measured for the concentration of calcium and creatinine from 769 pregnant women who visited our department of obstetrics at Young-Dong Severeance hospital, Yonsei university medical college for antenatal care from March 1, 1993 to May 31, 1996. One group of 41 women developed preeclampsia and the other didn`t. There were no diffrences in ages and gestational age at urine collection between two groups, but a group with preeclampsia had an increased mean arterial blood pressure. There were signiificant difference in calcium concentration in urine and ratios of concentration of calcium and creatinine from urine collected between gestational ages of 25 weeks and 32 weeks and also in those women younger than 25 years old and their first pregnancy. Our study suggests that the measure ment of calcium level and ratios of urine calcium concentration and creatinine concentration at gestational ages between 25 weeks and 32 weeks in women younger than 25 year old with their first pregnancy is quite helpful inpredicting the develpoment of preeclampsia.
Adult ; Arterial Pressure ; Calcium ; Creatinine ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Obstetrics ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Urine Specimen Collection ; Weights and Measures

The authors present a series of 6 patients with isolated traumatic ganglionic hemorrhage. Although the patient population is small, some characteristic features of this rare type of traumatic lesion can be drawn. Isolated traumatic ganglionic hemorrhage differs from traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage or diffuse white matter injury, but also shares some features of both types of lesion. Some characteristic CT findings of isolated traumatic ganglionic hemorrhage are discussed. The prognosis of this lesion can be predicted by the degree of motor deficit and pupillary change with high accuracy.
Cerebral Hemorrhage, Traumatic ; Ganglion Cysts* ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVE: beta-endorphin, most potent endogenous opioid peptide, is known to play an important role in many homeostatic systems such as the maintenance of blood pressure, regulation of body temperature and the control of pituitary hormone secretion. Previous reports of plasma levels of beta-endorphin in patients with chronic renal failure have mostly shown elevated levels. But the effect of hemodialysis on the plasma levels of beta-endorphin in patients with maintenance hemodialysis is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a hemodialysis session on the plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin in patients with end-stage renal disease and also to investigate changes of hemodynamic response according to the changes of plasma levels of beta-endorphin. METHODS: The study group comprised 36 patients who had received regular hemodialysis. Blood for analysis of beta -endorphin was sampled before and immediately after hemodialysis and measured by immunoradiometric assay. Extracellular fluid / total body water (ECF/TBW) was measured before and after the hemodialysis session by multifrequency bioimpedance analyzer (InBody 2.0 , Biospace Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured by Centrysystem 3 BP monitor every 30 minutes. RESULTS: 1) As a whole, the predialysis beta-endorphin did not differ significantly from postdialysis levels. Blood pressure increased significantly during dialysis. The postdialysis value of ECF/TBW was significantly decreased(0.37+/-0.02 vs. 0.34+/-0.02, p<0.01). 2) The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the pre-, and post-dialysis beta-endorphin levels(Group 1, predialysis beta-endorphin > postdialysis beta-endorphin(n=23) ; group 2, predialysis beta-endorphin < or = postdialysis beta -endorphin(n=13)). 3) During dialysis, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased significantly in group 1(p<0.05), but not in group 2. 4) The postdialysis value of ECF/TBW was significantly decreased from baseline value to reference range (0.34+/-0.01) in group 1, but to above the reference range in group 2. 5) The plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin did not change by administration of recombinant human erythropoietin. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the elevation in plasma beta-endorphin concentrations probably occur to balance the changes in vasoconstrictive substances. An increase in vasoconstrictive substances is mainly secondary to the decrease in plasma volume during hemodialysis. The data also suggest that certain vasoactive substances might participate in the hemodynamic response to hemodialysis although their exact roles remain to be further elucidated.
beta-Endorphin* ; Blood Pressure ; Body Temperature ; Body Water ; Dialysis ; Erythropoietin ; Extracellular Fluid ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Immunoradiometric Assay ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Opioid Peptides ; Plasma ; Plasma Volume ; Reference Values ; Renal Dialysis* ; Seoul