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

Lipoblastoma is a benign tumor which frequently arises in the limbs but rarely in the mediastinum, and is common in children under the age of three years. We report a case of mediastinal lipoblastoma in a 27-month-old female child complaining of dyspnea. Plain radiography demonstrated a huge well-defined mass in the me-diastinum, while CT scanning revealed a soft tissue mass with an internal hypodense portion. When radi-ographic images in children under the age of three reveal a soft tissue mass with a fat component in the mediastinum, especially where there is no calcification or a cystic component, lipoblastoma should be included in the differential diagnosis.
Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dyspnea ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoblastoma* ; Mediastinum ; Radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A markedly enlarged right heat with a normal outflow tract was detected by fetal echocardiography in a fetus at 28 week's gestation. Follow-up scan at 32 week's gestation also showed asymmetric ventricles. The neonate were normal after delivery. Marked discrepancy between the sizes of the right and left ventricle generally indicates structural heart anomaly, such as coactation of aorta, hypoplastic left heat syndrome, or right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. But we experienced a case of marked fetal ventricular size discrepancy on 4 chamber view and turned out to be normal heart postnatally.
Aorta ; Echocardiography* ; Fetus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Heart Ventricles ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy

No abstract available.
Bacteria, Anaerobic*

Transrectal Ultrasonography (TRUS) easily provides an accurate assessment of the seminal tract. In Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) of the seminal tract, the anatomic relationships are more clearly seen and the multiplanar imaging is available, so a more definitive diagnosis can be achieved. Although TRUS and MRI have been studied extensively, the findings of TRUS have not been compared with those of MRI. We studied 29 patients who were assessed with TRUS and MRI simultaneously due to disease of the seminal tract. The findings of cystic disease were coincident between TRUS and MRI. But the small size Mullerian duct cysts were not found in TRUS but were found in MRI. Hemorrhage of the ejaculatory duct and seminal vesicle, thickened ampulla portion of vas deferens were found only in MRI. Ejaculatory duct and seminal vesicle calcification were not easily found in TRUS due to their small size. The findings of seminal vesicle atrophy, dilatation and prostatic calcification between TRUS and MRI were discrepant. In conclusion, MRI is more helpful than TRUS in the diagnosis of small Mullerian duct cyst, small ejaculatory duct calculi, small seminal vesicle calculi, hemorrhage of ejaculatory duct and seminal vesicle and thickened ampulla portion of vas eferens.
Atrophy ; Calculi ; Diagnosis* ; Dilatation ; Ejaculatory Ducts ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Seminal Vesicles ; Ultrasonography* ; Vas Deferens

No abstract available.
Stem Cells*

No Abstract available.
Fetal Heart*

The clinical observation on diagnosis and treatment was made in 84 patients of renal injury during the period from 1983 to 1989. The results were as follows. 1. The sex ratio of male to female was 3.4:1 and the most favorable age was from 20 to 39 years for 46.4%. 2. The main cause of injury was nonpenetrating injury of which traffic accidents was the most common cause. 3. The associated injuries were seen in 100% of penetrating injury and 55.1% of nonpenetrating injury. The most common associated injury was diaphragmatic injury in penetrating injury and head injury in nonpenetrating injury. 4. Flank pain and hematuria were found in 91.7% and 84.5% in the patients with renal injury, respectively.5. IVP. CT scan, ultrasonography and retrograde pyelography were taken in 63. 50.5 and 2 patients. respectively for the diagnosis of renal injury. The frequency of minor. major and pedicle renal injury were 63.1%. 33.3% and 3.6%, respectively. 6. In minor injury. conservative treatment and renorrhaphy were performed in 98.1% and 1.9% and complication occurred in 3.8%. In major injury. conservative treatment. nephrectomy. partial nephrectomy and renorrhaphy were performed in 46.4%, 32.1%. .14.2% and 7.1%. respectively and complication occurred in 21.4%. In pedicle injury. nephrectomy was performed in 100% and complication was happened in 33.3%. From the viewpoint of the cause of injury, conservative treatment was performed in 16.7% in penetrating injury and 82.1% in nonpenetrating injury. In conclusion. the accurate diagnosis and treatment plan of renal injury with computed tomography are important. When the selection between conservative treatment and operative treatment is difficult, aggressive operative treatment is effective for the preservation of the injured kidney and the prevention of complications.
Accidents, Traffic ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Diagnosis* ; Female ; Flank Pain ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Kidney ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Sex Ratio ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Urography ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating