No abstract available.
Embryonic Stem Cells*

This article was published with an incorrect unit in Table 1.

OBJECTIVE: Elevated serum progesterone (P) levels on triggering day have been known to affect the pregnancy rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF). This study aimed to identify the possible factors influencing serum P levels on triggering day in stimulated IVF cycles. METHODS: Three hundred and thirty consecutive fresh IVF cycles were included in the study. All cycles were first attempts and were performed in a single infertility center. The indications for IVF were male factor infertility (n=114), ovulatory infertility (n=84), endometriosis (n=61), tubal infertility (n=59), unexplained infertility (n=41), and uterine factor infertility (n=39). A luteal long protocol of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist (n=184) or a GnRH antagonist protocol (n=146) was used for pituitary suppression. Ovarian sensitivity was defined as the serum estradiol level on triggering day per 500 IU of administered gonadotropins (OS[a]) or the retrieved oocyte number per 500 IU of administered gonadotropins (OS[b]). RESULTS: Univariate analysis revealed that the serum P level on triggering day was associated with the serum estradiol level on triggering day (r=0.379, p<0.001), the number of follicles > or =14 mm (r=0.247, p<0.001), the number of retrieved oocytes (r=0.384, p<0.001), and ovarian sensitivity (OS[a]: r=0.245, p<0.001; OS[b]: r=0.170, p=0.002). The woman's age, body mass index, antral follicle count, and basal serum follicle stimulating hormone and estradiol levels were not associated with serum P level on triggering day. The serum P level on triggering day did not show significant variation depending on the type or cause of infertility, pituitary suppression protocol, or the type of gonadotropins used. CONCLUSION: The serum P level on triggering day was closely related to the response to ovarian stimulation.
Body Mass Index ; Endometriosis ; Estradiol ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Infertility ; Male ; Oocytes ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy Rate ; Progesterone*

S-100 protein is a mixture of three proteins, that is, S-100 ao(aa), S-100 a(ab) and, S- 100 b(bb). Twenty-two case, of sweat gland tumors were stained with immunoperoxidase technique (ABC method) for the presence of S-100a and b-subunit. Four syringomas, four eccrine poromas, two eccrine porocarcinomas, two ecerine spirdeiomas, one papillary eccrine adenoma, three clear cell hidradenomas, three mixed tumr rs of the skin, two papillary syringocystadenomas, and one cylindroma were included. All specimens were formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded. The results were as follows : 1) The staining patterns of anti-S-100a and b-protein antibodies we e simillar to those of anti-S-100 protein antibody except in eccrine poroma and porocare nomal. 2) In eccrine poroma and porocarcinoma, scattered S-100-positive dendritic cells within tumor cell nests were stained by S-100-protein antibody (3/6), but not by anti-S-100a protein antibody. S-100p is present in normal Langerhans cells. Therefore this finding suggests that these cells niay be Langerhans cells
Acrospiroma ; Adenoma ; Antibodies ; Antibodies, Monoclonal* ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Dendritic Cells ; Eccrine Porocarcinoma ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Langerhans Cells ; Poroma ; S100 Proteins ; Skin ; Sweat Glands* ; Sweat* ; Syringoma

PURPOSE: The aim of this work was to evaluate nuclear histone acetylation level and total histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and deacetylase (HDAC) activity in ejaculated sperm and their relevance to conventional sperm parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three normozoospermic men were included in this study. Semen samples were processed by swim-up and then immunostained by six acetylation antibodies (H3K9ac, H3K14ac, H4K5ac, H4K8ac, H4K12ac, and H4K16ac). Our preliminary study verified the expression of HAT/HDAC1 in mature human sperm. From vitrified-warmed sperm samples, total HAT/HDAC activity was measured by commercially available kits. Nuclear DNA integrity was also measured by TUNEL assay. RESULTS: The levels of six acetylation marks were not related with conventional sperm parameters including sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) as well as HAT/HDAC activity. However, sperm DFI was positively correlated with HAT activity (r=0.038 after adjustment, p<0.02). HAT activity showed a negative relationship with HDAC activity (r=-0.51, p<0.01). Strict morphology was negatively correlated with acetylation enzyme index (=HAT activity/HDAC activity) (r=-0.53, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Our works demonstrated a significant relationship of acetylation-associated enzyme activity and strict morphology or sperm DFI.
Acetylation ; Adult ; DNA Fragmentation ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Histone Acetyltransferases/*metabolism ; Histones/*metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Semen Analysis ; Spermatozoa/*metabolism

No abstract available.
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Humans ; Hypogonadism* ; Male*

PURPOSE: To correlate radiologic findings with clinical findings in patients with a mosaic patten of lungattenuation, as seen on thin-section CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one cases in which a mosaic pattern oflung attenuation was detected on combined expiratory and inspiratory scans of thin-section CT were retrospectivelyanalyzed. Cases involving infiltrative lung disease were excluded. Both thin-section CT and clinical findings wereanalyzed and the relationship between the extent of the area of hyperlucency -as seen on expiratory scan- andphysiologic parameters was evaluated. The subjects were 10 men and 21 women ranged in age from 25 to 76 (mean 50)years. RESULT: Twenty-nine patients with small airway disease, [chronic bronchitis and/or bronchiolitis(n=11),bronchiectasis(n=8), bronchial asthma(n=8), mycoplasmic pneumonitis(n=1) and hypersensitive pneumonitis(n=1),] andtwo patients with pulmonary vascular disease, [chronic pulmonary thromboembolism(n=1) and stenosis of the leftupper pulmonary artery(n=1)] were included in our study. Commonly associated thin-section CT findings in the casesinvolving small airway disease(n=29) were bronchial wall thickening(n=25), nodular opacity(n=25), bronchial andbronchiolar dilatation(n=20) and small branching opacity(n=16). These findings were not observed in two patientswith pulmonary vascular disease, though bronchial wall thickening was seen in the patient with chronic pulmonarythromboembolism. At expiratory scan level, there was statistical correlation between FEV1/FVC and the number ofpulmonary segments(r= 0.982, p<0.05), but no correlation between FEV1/FVC and the percentage area ofhyperlucency(r=0.803, p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The mosaic pattern of lung attenuation seen on thin-section CT isindicative of various diseases, involving small airways such as bronchiolitis, bronchitis, bronchiectasis andbronchial asthma, and vascular lung disease. Bronchial wall thickening and nodular opacity can be associated withsmall airway diseases.
Asthma ; Bronchiectasis ; Bronchiolitis ; Bronchitis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Lung* ; Male ; Vascular Diseases

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Translucency and masking effect of provisional crown and fixed partial denture materials is an important esthetic consideration. But, provisional resin materials differ substantially in their ability to mask underlying colors. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the translucency differences of provisional resin materials at various thicknesses and the correlation between the translucency and the masking efficiency. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two polymethyl methacrylate resins (Jet Tooth Shade, Alike) and three resin composites (Protemp 3 Garant, Luxatemp and Revotek LC) were used. Specimens (n=6) were fabricated from each material in 0.3, 0.5, 0.8, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 mm thickness. The CIELAB parameters of each specimens were measured using a spectrophotometer. The translucency parameter (TP) values and the masking effect (delta ME*(ab)) values were computed and all data were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA and the multiple comparisons Scheffe test. The correlation between the thickness and the TP values and the correlation between the thickness and the delta ME*(ab) values were also evaluated by correlation analysis and regression analysis. RESULTS: The TP values and the delta ME*(ab) values were significantly related to the thickness in all specimens. The TP values were more sensitive to the change of thickness than the delta ME*(ab) values. The order of the translucency by brand was different from the order of the masking effect by brand in all thickness groups. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, the translucency and masking effect of the provisional resin materials investigated were significantly related to their thickness. The masking effect of provisional resin was correlated with the translucency parameter, but the order of the masking effect by brand was different from the order of the translucency parameter.
Crowns* ; Denture, Partial, Fixed* ; Masks* ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Tooth

Ethical problems in an emergency department (ED) are much more common than is usually recognized. But these difficult ethical dilemmas have not been dealt with by general medical ethicists. Most medical ethics guidelines tend to concentrate on chronic or at least relatively stable situations rather than on the acute, episodic cases that are typical in the ED. most ethical problems such as abortion, euthanasia, and professionalism can be solved after reflection and deliberation, and after a process of communication that reveals the values and interests of the patient or the patient's family. In contrast, when health care professionals in the ED recognize ethical problems, they often don't have enough time for an ethical consultation such as a Hospital Ethics Committee. Ethical principles such as autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice need to be applied to the unique setting of emergency medicine. Hence, it is necessary to develop ethics guidelines in emergency medicine and ethics education for health care professionals in emergency departments. At first, we collected cases involving ethical problems and reviewed the ethical and legal aspects of those cases. In this article, we summarize the ethical issues in emergency medicine, deal with actions in emergency medical services, and also consider the relationships between ethical issues and act on emergency medical services. We want to present the important factors that should be considered in ethical decision making within an emergency medicine department including patient decision making capacity, legal custody, and ethical principles.
Beneficence ; Decision Making ; Delivery of Health Care ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Medicine ; Ethicists ; Ethics Committees, Clinical ; Ethics, Medical ; Euthanasia ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Social Justice

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether animal age impacts in vitro preantral follicle growth. Effects of hCG, stem cell factor (SCF), and/or insulin-like growth factor (IGF) supplementation in growth medium were also investigated. METHODS: Intact preantral follicles were mechanically isolated from fresh ovaries of BDF1 mice and cultured in growth medium for 9 to 11 days. Surviving follicles with antrum formation were transferred to maturation medium for 14 to 18 hours. Follicle survival, antrum formation, and retrieval of metaphase II (MII) oocytes were compared among three age categories (4-5, 7-8, and 10-11 week-old). By using 7- to 8-week-old mice, preantral follicles were cultured in growth medium supplemented with hCG (0, 5, or 10 mIU/mL), SCF (50 ng/mL), IGF-1 (50 ng/mL), and SCF+IGF-1. RESULTS: Seven- to eight-week-old mice showed a higher follicle survival and antrum formation and produced more MII oocytes compared to other groups. In the 7- to 8-week-old mice, supplementation of 5 mIU/mL hCG significantly enhanced the antrum formation but the percentage of MII oocytes was similar to that of the control. Supplementation of SCF+IGF-1 did not enhance follicle survival or antrum formation but the percentage of MII oocytes increased modestly (39.1%) than in the control (28.6%, statistically not significant). CONCLUSION: Seven- to eight-week-old mice showed better outcomes in growth of preantral follicles in vitro than 4- to 5- or 10- to 11-week-old mice. Supplementation of hCG enhanced antrum formation and supplementation of SCF+IGF-1 yielded more mature oocytes; hence, these should be considered in the growth of preantral follicles in vitro.
Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Metaphase ; Mice ; Oocytes ; Ovarian Follicle ; Ovary ; Stem Cell Factor ; Stem Cells