Male genital tract inflammatory conditions may be associated with unexplained infertility. The presence of cytokine such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was reported in the semen of infertile men. However, the effect of these cytokines on human sperm function is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in-vitro effects of TNF-alpha on human sperm motility with computer assisted sperm analysis. Washed sperm from 16 normal men were incubated without and with TNF-alpha(0.1, 10, 1000 ng/ml). The changes of parameters of sperm motility were recorded at different time intervals (0, 5, 24 hour). There was no significant change of parameters of sperm motility in the incubation with TNF-alpha. It is suggested that TNF-alpha alone does not interfere with the sperm motility and more studies are needed.
Cytokines ; Humans ; Infertility ; Male ; Semen ; Sperm Motility* ; Spermatozoa* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

Sparganosis is a tissue-invading disease caused hy plerocercoid of Spirometra mansoni91. Usually, uncooked snakes or flogs and infected water are primary sources of sparganosis. Sparganosis found in the lower extremities, abdominal wall, breast, inguinal region and scrotum. Simple radiographs show linear or elongated calcification. Serodiagnostic tests have also heen used widely. Confirmative diagnosis of sparganosis is made by surgical removal of the worm. We experienced a case of sparganosis in a 48-year old male in the calf. We report a case and review related articles hriefly.
Abdominal Wall ; Breast ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Scrotum ; Snakes ; Sparganosis* ; Spirometra

Hypertension is a risk factor for developing fatal aortic dissection. Aortic dissection occurs 2~3 times as often in men than in women between ages of 50~70 years old. Among other risk factors, aortic dissection occurs especially in women below the age of 40 years old in pregnancy-related cases. In pregnancy-related cases, aortic dissection occurs in the third trimester and in puerperium, as well as in multiparous women. The writers experienced an aortic dissection related pregnancy. The patient was 32 years old, diagnosis of dissection occurred in the postpartum period. Although, aortic dissection is a rare complication of pregnancy, the knowledge of this may assist the emergency physician save the lives of patients.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Risk Factors

Seminal biochemical compositions are to be affected during inflammatory conditions of seminal tract such as chronic prostatitis. Especially chronic prostatitis induces changes in composition of prostatic fluid, and the chronic nature of disease also induces atrophy of prostatic secretory acini and the inflammation of seminal vesicle. We investigated the change of the seminal composition and the possible effect in sperm motility of chronic prostatitis patients. Sperm motility and seminal levels of zinc, citric acid, prostatic acid phosphatase(PAP) and fructose were measured on 12 healthy males and 21 chronic prostatitis patients. Sperm motility in chronic prostatitis patients was decreased and seminal levels of zinc, citric acid, PAP and fructose in control and chronic prostatitis patients were 143+/-10/102+/-7(ug/L), 389+/-17/293+/-25(mg/dl), 446+/-61/ 382+/-28(U/ml), 306+/-7/297+/-6(mg/dl), respectively. The change of zinc was statistically significant. In conclusion, although decrease of seminal zinc in patients with chronic prostatitis was found, there was no convincing evidence to suggest that alterations in seminal composition due to chronic prostatitis lead to decrease of sperm motility.
Atrophy ; Citric Acid ; Fructose ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Prostatitis* ; Semen ; Seminal Vesicles ; Sperm Motility ; Zinc

Inflammatory white blood cells in semen is related to semen quality affecting fertility. The role of inflammatory cells on the seminal levels of various cytokines associated with inflammation and sperm motility is evaluated. Semens from 10 healthy males and 20 chronic prostatitis patients were evaluated for the levels of interleukin(IL)-1a, IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-a. Motility parameters were recorded using Hamilton-Thorne computer semen analysis system. Sperm motility parameters such as including average path velocity(VAP), straight line velocity(VSL), curvilinear velocity(VCL), lateral head displacement(ALH), beat frequency(BCF), straightness(STR), linearity(LIN), elongation and area in control and chronic prostatitis patients were 44.9+/-2.5/38.8+/-1.3(um/sec), 36.4+/-2.4/30.5+/-1.1(um/sec), 64.2+/-3.9/ 58.0+/-2.4(Fm/sec), 3.3+/-0.2/4.8+/-0.3tm), 19.8+/-3.7/13.9+/-0.3(Hz), 77.7+/-5.1/78.8+/-1.2(%), 50.6+/-17.5/53.5+/-1.9(%), 66.8+/-5.4/57.8+/-1.1(9%), 2.9+/-0.3/3.8+/-0.1(um/sec), respectively. Statistical significance was noted in VAP, VSL, ALH, BCF, elongation and area. Semen levels of IL-1a, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-a in control and chronic prostatitis patients are 15.1+/-1.5/52.9+/-14.2 (pg/ml), 10.5+/-2.2/38.3+/-12.2 (pg/ml), 1.60+/-0.38/ 6.02+/-0.26 (ug/L), 11.8+/-2.5 / 21.7+/-4.0(pg/ml) statistically significant in all. For combined parameters, the correlation coefficient of IL-1a and VSL, ALH, Area were 0.40, 0.41, 0.37 respectively which were significant. The correlation coefficient of IL-8 and VAP, VSL, VCL, ALH, BCF, Elongation, Area were 0.48, 0.49, 0.39, 0.41, 0.55, 0.59, 0.66 respectively which were also significant. Seminal inflammatory cytokines are present in increased quantities if inflammatory white blood cells are present in semen and this increase might be related to sperm motility.
Cytokines* ; Fertility ; Head ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Necrosis ; Prostatitis ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Motility* ; Spermatozoa*

No Abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Echocardiography* ; Heart Defects, Congenital*

This study was performed to evaluate the influence of the possible preoperative prognostic factors on the results of pyeloplasty and to predict the postoperative prognosis according to these factors. Of 56 cases under the age of 15 years admitted to Yonsei University Medical Center from 1979 to 1988 with the diagnosis of ureteropelvic junction obstruction, 30 cases, who could be followed up after dismembered pyeloplasty, were analyzed for the preoperative prognostic factors. The possible preoperative prognostic factors affecting postoperative results after pyeloplasty are the age at the time of surgery. the length of obstruction and the state of growth and development. But the pyuria, the urinary tract infection, the severity of hydronephrosis, the presence of extrarenal pelvis, the function and degree of obstruction of the diseased kidney on renography, the thickness of renal parenchyme and the presence of the obstruction of contralateral kidney did not affect the postoperative results after pyeloplasty.
Academic Medical Centers ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Growth and Development ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Infant* ; Kidney ; Pelvis ; Prognosis ; Pyuria ; Radioisotope Renography ; Urinary Tract Infections

Primary tumors of the heart are rare, three quarter of the tumors are benign, and nearly half of the benign heart tumors are myxomas. Cardiac myxoma usually originate in the left atrium about 75 percent, however, only 3 to 4 percent of myxoma are detected in the left ventricle. We report on a 32 years old woman with left ventricular myxoma who presented with shortness of breath, chest tightness, and general weakness. Acute pulmonary embolism and left ventricular myxoma were found on a perfusion lung scan and echocadiogram. A mass located on septal wall of left ventricle was excised en bloc. The patient recovered uneventfully and careful follow up has be performed periodically.
Adult ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Heart Neoplasms ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Lung ; Myxoma* ; Perfusion ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Animals ; Clomipramine* ; Preoptic Area* ; Rats* ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors* ; Serotonin*

PURPOSE: We conducted a study to determine which factors may be useful as predictive markers in identifying Kawasaki disease (KD) patients with a high risk of resistance to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and developing coronary artery lesions (CAL). METHODS: We enrolled 287 patients in acute phase of KD at a single center. The demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected retrospectively. RESULTS: There were 34 patients in the IVIG resistant group. The IVIG resistant group had significantly higher serum N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic protein (NT-proBNP) levels (P<0.01) and polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) percentage (P<0.01) in comparison to the IVIG responders. The results yielded sensitivity (78.8%, 60.6%), specificity (58.2%, 90%) and cutoff value (628.6 pg/mL, 80.3%) of NT-proBNP and PMN respectively, in predicting IVIG resistance. Despite IVIG administration, 13 of the 287 patients developed CAL. The patients in the CAL group had higher NT-proBNP levels (P<0.01) and higher PMN percentage (P<0.01). In these patients, the results yielded sensitivity (73.3%, 56.7%), specificity (67.9%, 88.9%) and cutoff value (853.4 pg/mL, 80.3%) of NT-proBNP and PMN respectively, for predicting CAL. The area under the curve (AUC) for predicting resistance to IVIG was NT-proBNP 0.712, PMN 0.802. The AUC for predicting CAL was NT-proBNP 0.739, and PMN 0.773. CONCLUSION: Serum NT-proBNP levels and PMN percentage were significantly elevated in patients with KD with IVIG resistance and CAL. Thus, they may be useful predicting markers for IVIG resistance and development of CAL in KD patients.
Area Under Curve ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins* ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Neutrophils ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity