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

No abstract available.
Angiocardiography* ; Contrast Media* ; Electrolytes* ; Osmolar Concentration* ; Plasma* ; Renin*

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.
Diagnosis* ; Echocardiography* ; Heart Defects, Congenital*

No abstract available.

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

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

No Abstract available.
Fetal Heart*