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*

We experienced four cases of sporotrichosis including three lymphocutaneous type and one fixed cutaueous type. Case 1 was a 6-year old child, affected over the right chin. Case 2 was a 31-year old housewife, affected over the right forearm, Case 3 was a 53-year old housewife, affected over the right forearm and dorsum of right hand. Case 4 was a 19-year old student, affected over the left forearm. Histopathologically, chronic granulomatous inflammation with the neutrophilic ivfiltration and/or central suppuration were observed. Mycologically, typical colonies with moist, wrinkled and rnembraneous surface were cultured except in case 3. All patients were completly cured by oral administration of low dosage of potassium iodide(63. R-lllg) in a short period (50~86 days).
Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Child ; Chin ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Middle Aged ; Neutrophils ; Potassium Iodide* ; Potassium* ; Sporotrichosis* ; Suppuration ; Young Adult

The present study was carried out to clarify the anatomical changes of lumbar intervertebral discs by aging. Anterior height, posterior height, anteroposterior diameter of intervertebral discs were measured on 512 normal plain lateral radiographs of lumbosacral spine. And the indices of disc wedging and relative disc height were calculated. There was a cephalocaudal gradient of increase in the indices of disc wedging in all age groups. The indices of relative disc height were constant at all lumbar levels. These suggest that the lower disc is more wedge shaped and the height of discs changes in the constant ratio with that of vertebral body.
Aging* ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Spine

A 47 year-old woman with generalized fresh tense or ruptured bullae was diagnosed as bullaus pemphigoid by histopathological and direct immunofluorescent test. We treated her with prednisolone and bethamethasone for 3 weeks. And soon after, herpes zoster developed along the right T9 dermatome. It is not precise whether true association or only incidental concomitance, but, there may be present some relatioship.
Female ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pemphigoid, Bullous* ; Prednisolone ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

To evaluate factors related to success rate of dacryocystorhinostomy, we retrospectively surveyed 131 eyes about age, sex, symptom duration, etiology, obstruction site, sac size, silicone tube insertion and surgeons learning curve. Patients age, sex, obstruction site and sac size were not related to surgical results, but longer duration of epiphora, trauma, silicone intubation and poor surgical skill had relationship with poor surgical results. Surgical skill was the most important factor in multiple logistic regression. We believe that surgical technique for making a mucosal flap with bone removal etc., was very important to surgical success.
Dacryocystorhinostomy* ; Humans ; Intubation ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Learning Curve ; Logistic Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Silicones

It is the purpose of this study to compare the postoperative results of 168 patients with exotropia of basic and simulated divergence excess type over 40 prism diopters; 86 patients had bilateral rectus muscle recessions and 82 patients underwent lateral rectus muscle recession and medial rectus muscle resection. The patients in the former group had averaged 13.7 years of age and 8.2 months of postoperative follow-up period. Those in the latter group averaged 22.9 years and had been followed up for 7.1 months. The postoperative success rates are as follows: 66.7%(57/86) in the bilateral rectus muscle recession group and 68.1%(58/82) in the lateral rectus muscle recession and medial rectus muscle resection group(P>0.05). And the success rates of those older than 16 years without amblyopia are 60.0%(18/30) in the former group and 75.0%(24/32) in the latter group(P>0.05). The lateral rectus muscle recession and medial rectus muscle resection group showed somewhat higher rates of success even though it proved statistically insignificant.
Amblyopia ; Exotropia* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans

We reviewed 92 eyes(65 patients) of diffuse diabetic macular edema which were treated with grid laser photocoagulation and followed up for more than 4 months from March 1992 to March 1997. There were improvements of visual acuity in 24 eyes(26.1%)and non changes in 50 eyes(54.3%), and 18 eyes(19.6%) showed worsened visual acuity. Initial visual acuity, presence of clinically significant macular edema and severity of retinopathy had not significant effects on visual outcome(P>0.05). Patients with grid photocoahulation without panretinal photocoagulation showed significantly good results than panretinal photocoagulation before or after grid photocoagulation(p<0.05).
Humans ; Light Coagulation* ; Macular Edema* ; Visual Acuity

Clinically, the transformation of morphea to scleroderma is rare. We report a case suggested acroselerosis transformed from guttate morphea. Patient was 30-year old woman who had generalized bean-sized depigmented macules except face since early childhood. About one year ago, Raynauds phenomenon, edema and sclerotic change of the both hands and feet were developed. On the laboratory findings, there were positive reaction for rheumatoid factor and antinauclear antibody test and increase of erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Histopathologically, there were even increased collagen fibers, atherosclerotic change of the vessels and atrophic sweat glands.
Adult ; Blood Sedimentation ; Collagen ; Edema ; Female ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Scleroderma, Localized* ; Sweat Glands

No abstract available.
Incontinentia Pigmenti*

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between insomnia severity, depression, anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity and to find out the explanatory variables that account for the insomnia severity among depression, anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity in general population. 95 mentally healthy volunteers who visit health promotion center of Kangbuk Samsung hospital for their regular medical examination were requested to complete Athens Insomnia Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Anxiety Sensitivity Index. Association between total scores of Athens Insomnia scale and other variables (total scores of Beck Depression Inventory excluded item 16, total scores of State Anxiety, total scores of Trait Anxiety, and total scores of Anxiety Sensitivity Scale) was assessed individually with partial correlations adjusted by age and then together using multiple regression analysis. The total scores of Athens Insomnia Scale were significantly associated with total scores of Beck Depression Inventory excluded item 16(r = 0.541, p<0.001), total scores of Trait Anxiety(r = 0.642, p<0.001), total scores of State Anxiety(r = 0.267, p<0.05), and total scores of Anxiety Sensitivity Index(r = 0.312, p<0.01). Total scores of trait anxiety showed the highest correlation with the total scores of Athens Insomnia Scale and was the significant predictor to total scores of Athens Insomnia Scale among the other predictor variables (p<0.001). These results show that insomnia severity is positively correlated with depression, anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity. The correlation was strongest with trait anxiety. In addition, our results suggest that trait anxiety is associated with insomnia severity in general populations.
Anxiety* ; Depression* ; Health Promotion ; Healthy Volunteers ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders*