To evaluate the effectiveness of intrauterine insemination (IUI) in the treatment of infertility, timed-intercourse and intrauterine insemination by husband in stimulated cycles with clomiphene citrate and gonadotropins were compared in a total of 105 cycles. Patients received 100 mg of clomiphene citrate daily for 5 days starting on day 3 of the menstrual cycle followed by hMG or FSH. Doses of exogenous gonadotropins were adjusted by the follicular development and concentrations of serum estradiol (E2). More than 3 follicles reaching >16 mm were present in the ovary, 5,000 IU of hCG was administered intramusculary. Patients received a maximum of three intercourse or IUI cycles for the treatment. Severe male (<10x106 motile sperm) or age factor (>39 y) patients were excluded in this study. Pregnancy was classified as clinical if a gestational sac or fetal cardiac activity was seen on ultrasound. The overall clinical pregnancy rates were 17.1% per cycle (18/105) and 21.2% per patient (18/85). The pregnancy rates (per cycle) were 17.5% (l1/63) in intercourse and 16.7% (7/42) in IUI groups, respectively. IUI had no significant improvement in pregnancy rate compared with timed-intercourse. The multiple pregnancy rates were 11.1% (1 twin and 1 triplet). No patient developed ovarian hyperstimulation. Abortion rate was 28.6% (2/7) in IUI group only. The delivery and ongoing pregnancy rates were 15.2% per cycle (16/105) and 18.8% per patient (16/85). There were no differences in age, duration of infertility, follicle size and level of estradiol (E2) on the day of hCG injection in pregnant and non-pregnant groups. However, total doses of gonadotropins were higher in pregnant group than in non-pregnant group (p<0.01). Pregnancy rate was not affected by ovulatory status at the time of insemination. These results indicate that well timed-intercourse in stimulated cycles is as effective as IUI for infertile couples.
Abortion, Induced ; Age Factors ; Clomiphene* ; Estradiol ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Gestational Sac ; Gonadotropins* ; Humans ; Infertility ; Insemination* ; Male ; Menstrual Cycle ; Ovary ; Pregnancy Rate* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Spouses ; Ultrasonography

The effectiveness of intrauterine insemination (IUI) combined with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) in the treatment of infertility with various etiologies was compared in a total of 152 cycles. Patients received a maximum of three IUI cycles for the treatment. Severe male (<2 x 10(6)motile sperm) or age facto. (> 39 y) patients were excluded in this study. Pregnancy was classified as clinical if a gestational sac was seen on ultrasound. The overall clinical pregnancy rate was 7.9% per cycle (12/152) and 9.7% per patient (12/124). The pregnancy rates were 0% in unstimulated natural (0/l8), 7.5% in CC (3/40), 8.2% in CC+hMG (4/49), 5.9% in GnRH-a ultrashort (1/17), 5.9% in GnRH-a long (1/17) and 27.3% in dual suppression cycles (3/11), respectively. The pregnancy rate was higher in dual suppression cycle than other stimulated cycles, but this was not significant. The multiple pregnancy rates were 25.0% (2 twins and 1 triplet). No patient developed ovarian hyperstimulation. Abortion rates were 66.7% in CC (2/3) and 100% in ultrashort cycles (1/1). The livebirth rate was 5.9% per cycle (9/152) and 7.3% per patient (9/124). There were no differences in age, duration of infertility, follicle size, total ampules of gonadotropins and days of stimulation between pregnant and non-pregnant groups. However, significant(P<0.05) differences were observed in the level of estradiol (E2) on the day of hCG injection (3,266.6+/-214.2 vs 2,202.7+/-139.4 pg/ml) and total motile sperm count (212.1+/-63.4 vs 105.1+/-9.9 x 10(6)) between pregnant group and non-pregnant group. These results suggest that lUl combined with successful ovarian stimulation tends to improve the chance of pregnancy as compared to lUl without COH and a total motile sperm count may be considered predictive of the success for pregnancy.
Abortion, Induced ; Estradiol ; Female ; Gestational Sac ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Infertility ; Insemination* ; Male ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy Rate* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Sperm Count ; Twins ; Ultrasonography

Angiogenesis is an essential process in tumor growth and metastasis. VEGF has been considered a leading candidate inducing tumor angiogenesis. VEGF expression was significantly correlated with clinical stage, lymph node matastasis, and prognosis of cancers of various parts of body. However, little has been known about the correlation between VEGF expression and clinicopathologic parameters in oral squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of this study was to correlate VEGF expression with the clinicopathological parameters and microvessel density. Forty six oral squamous cell carcinomas were analyzed using immunohistochemical method with primary antibodies to VEGF and CD31. VEGF expression was detected in 33 (71.7%) of the 46 cases. The microvessel density was significantly correlated with VEGF expression (P=0.002). There was no correlation between microvessel density and tumour size, clinical stage, and lymph node metastasis, respectively. VEGF expression did not correlate with the histological grade of tumour differentiation, tumour size, and clinical stages. The VEGF-positive rate seemed to be higher in patients with cervical lymph nodal metastasis than in those without it, but it was not statistically significant. In conclusion, the overexpression of VEGF in the oral squamous cell carcinoma seemed to be associated with a more aggressive course of the disease. Further study is necessary to define the role of VEGF in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Antibodies ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Microvessels* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

Purpose: To analyze the clinical features of delayed diagnosed acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG) patients who were misdiagnosed with neurologic disease in an emergency room (ER). Methods: This study was conducted with a total of 77 patients (77 eyes) who had been diagnosed with AACG in the ER. Age, gender, laterality, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the affected eye at the time of the ER visit and at an outpatient clinic follow-up examination, bilateral intraocular pressure (IOP) at time of visit, previous eye-disease history, previous history of ophthalmic surgery, underlying systemic disease including metabolic syndrome, previous neurologic disease history, referral source, chief complaint, past history of migraine, residence, and specialty of the initial doctor in charge of the ER were statistically analyzed. Results: Among the 77 patients, 34 received a delayed diagnosis and 43 were diagnosed in a timely manner. Higher cases of delayed diagnosis were observed in patients who had lower BCVA at the time of the ER visit (p = 0.001), nonophthalmologic referral source visiting the ER (p < 0.001), a chief complaint of extra-ocular symptoms (p < 0.001), and a non-ophthalmologist as the initial doctor in charge of the ER (p < 0.001). None of the other factors, including IOP, previous eye-disease history, previous ophthalmic surgery, underlying systemic disease including metabolic syndrome, previous neurologic disease history, past history of migraine, or residence showed any statistically significant intergroup difference. Conclusions Among the AACG patients visiting the ER, many were delayed in their diagnosis and thus required much attention afterwards. Careful examination and a detailed recording of a patient’s medical history by an ophthalmologist is important for accurate and timely diagnosis in the ER.

Purpose: To analyze the clinical features of delayed diagnosed acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG) patients who were misdiagnosed with neurologic disease in an emergency room (ER). Methods: This study was conducted with a total of 77 patients (77 eyes) who had been diagnosed with AACG in the ER. Age, gender, laterality, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the affected eye at the time of the ER visit and at an outpatient clinic follow-up examination, bilateral intraocular pressure (IOP) at time of visit, previous eye-disease history, previous history of ophthalmic surgery, underlying systemic disease including metabolic syndrome, previous neurologic disease history, referral source, chief complaint, past history of migraine, residence, and specialty of the initial doctor in charge of the ER were statistically analyzed. Results: Among the 77 patients, 34 received a delayed diagnosis and 43 were diagnosed in a timely manner. Higher cases of delayed diagnosis were observed in patients who had lower BCVA at the time of the ER visit (p = 0.001), nonophthalmologic referral source visiting the ER (p < 0.001), a chief complaint of extra-ocular symptoms (p < 0.001), and a non-ophthalmologist as the initial doctor in charge of the ER (p < 0.001). None of the other factors, including IOP, previous eye-disease history, previous ophthalmic surgery, underlying systemic disease including metabolic syndrome, previous neurologic disease history, past history of migraine, or residence showed any statistically significant intergroup difference. Conclusions Among the AACG patients visiting the ER, many were delayed in their diagnosis and thus required much attention afterwards. Careful examination and a detailed recording of a patient’s medical history by an ophthalmologist is important for accurate and timely diagnosis in the ER.

OBJECTS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative usefulness of the morphologic scoring system and spectral doppler ultrasonographic analysis in differentiating between benign and malignant adnexal masses. METHODS: All patients scanned between July 1995 and June 1998 with sonographically identified and pathologically confirmed adnexal masses formed the study group. The adnexal masses were scored as benign or malignant on the basis of their sonographic appearance. Specific categories included inner wall structure, wall thickness, septal structure, and echogenicity. Women whose morphologic findings were suspicious for malignancy underwent doppler sonography. A threshold pulsatility index of 1.0 and resistance index of 0.4 were used to differentiate benign from malignant lesions. The findings were correlated with the presence of malignancy. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty one patients formed the study group; 215 patients were benign and 36 patients were malignant pathologically. Using the morphologic scoring system, 31 of the 36 malignant masses were classified as suggestive of malignant tumor, and 147 of the 215 benign masses were classified as not suggestive of malignant tumor (sensitivity, 86%; specificity, 68%; positive predictive value, 31%; negative predictive value, 97%). Doppler velocimetry was performed on a total of 62 patients, 19 patients with malignant tumors and 43 patients with benign tumors. A mean PI value of 0.85 and RI value of 0.52 for malignant tumors and mean PI value of 2.00 and RI value of 0.75 for benign tumors was shown. The PI value was significantly lower (p 0.001) in malignant than that of in benign masses, but RI value was not significant (p 0.184). The sensitivity and specificity in the detection of malignancy combined with doppler velocimetry was 86% and 67%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Doppler velocimetry studies did not add substantially to the prediction of malignancy using the morphologic scoring system.
Diagnosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Rheology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Chronic myelogenous leukemia is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder characterized by leukocytosis with myeloid elements at all stages of differentiation, t(9;22)(q34;q11) and bcr/abl rearrangement. We studied hydroxyurea induced apoptotic changes such as externalization of phosphatidylserine, caspase activities on human chronic myelogenous leukemic cell line, K562 cells. METHODS: K562 cells were grown in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and treated hydroxyurea. Viability was examined by MTT assay. Apoptosis were examined by annexin V stain, caspase (such as caspase-, caspase-, caspase-, caspase-, and caspase-) activities, and DNA fragmentation. RESULTS: The viability of K562 cells were markedly decreased in a dose dependent manner of hydroxyurea. Phosphatidylserine externalization was detected by annexin V stain after 3 hours in hydroxyurea treated K562 cells and the value of lactate dehydrogenase was not significantly changed in their culture media. The upstream effector of caspase- was slightly increased and had influenced on caspase-. And downstream acting caspase protease of caspase- was markedly increased in a time dependent manner at hydroxyurea treated K562 cells. In addition, however the activities of caspase- and caspase- were not increased. We also found DNA fragmentation at hydroxyurea treated K562 cells between 48 hours and 72 hours on agarose gel electrophoresis. CONCLUSIONS: Hydroxyurea induces apoptotic change in K562 cells via externalization of phosphatidylserine, activations of caspase-, caspase-, caspase- proteases, and DNA fragmentation.
Annexin A5 ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line* ; Culture Media ; DNA Fragmentation ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Humans ; Hydroxyurea* ; K562 Cells* ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Leukocytosis ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; Peptide Hydrolases

This experimental studies was to investigate the location of CNS labeled neurons following injection of pseudorabies virus (PRV), Bartha strain, into the rat thymus. After survival times of 96~120 hours following injection of PRV, the rats were perfused, and their spinal cord and brain were frozen sectioned(30micrometer). These sections were stained by PRV immunohistochemical staining method, and observed with light microscope The results were as follows: 1. The PRV labeled spinal cord segments projecting to the rat thymus were founded in cervical and thoracic segments. Densely labeled areas of each spinal cord segment were founded in lamina V, VII, X, intermediolateral nucleus and dorsal nucleus. 2. In the rhombencephalon, PRV labeled neurons projecting to the thymus were founded in the A1 noradrenalin cells/C1 adrenalin cells/caudoventrolateral reticular nucleus, rostroventro-lateral reticular nucleus, medullary reticular nucleus, area postrema, nucleus solitary tract, nucleus raphe obscurus, nucleus raphe pallidus, nucleus raphe magnus, gigantocellular reticular nucleus, lateral paragigantocellular nucleus and spinal trigeminal nucleus. 3. In the mesencephalon, PRV labeled neurons were founded in parabrachial nucleus, Kolliker-Fuse nucleus, central gray matter, substantia nigra, nucleus dorsal raphe, A8 dopamin cells of retrorubral field, Edinger-Westphal nucleus, locus coeruleus, subcoeruleus nucleus and A5 noradrenalin cells. 4. In the prosencephalon, PRV labeled neurons were founded in reuniens thalamic nucleus, paraventricular thalamic nucleus, precommissural nucleus, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, anterior hypothalamic nucleus, lateral hypothalamic nucleus, preoptic hypothalamic nucleus, retrochiasmatic area, arcuate nucleus, dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. These results suggest that PRV labeled neurons of the spinal cord projecting to the rat thymus might be the neurons related to the viscero-somatic sensory and sympathetic preganglionic neurons, and PRV labeled neurons of the brain may be the neurons response to the movement of smooth muscle in blood vessels. These PRV labeled neurons may be central autonomic center related to the integration and modulation of reflex control linked to the sensory system monitoring the internal environment. These observations provide evidence for previously unknown projections from spinal cord and brain to the thymus which may be play an important role in the regulation of thymic function.
Animals ; Anterior Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Arcuate Nucleus ; Area Postrema ; Blood Vessels ; Brain ; Dorsomedial Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Herpesvirus 1, Suid* ; Hypothalamic Area, Lateral ; Immunohistochemistry ; Locus Coeruleus ; Mesencephalon ; Midline Thalamic Nuclei ; Muscle, Smooth ; Neurons* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Prosencephalon ; Pseudorabies* ; Rats* ; Reflex ; Rhombencephalon ; Spinal Cord ; Substantia Nigra ; Thymus Gland* ; Trigeminal Nucleus, Spinal ; Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the possibility and safety of performing carotid endarterectomy under cervical plexus block. METHODS: Carotid endarterectomy was performed in 30 cases with deep and superficial cervical plexus block, to monitor the patient for cerebral ischemia in the awake state. The toy horn was placed in the contralateral hand in each case and was activated by the patient on command and patients had counted ten repeatedly during carotid clamping. Patients who had not been experienced in the change of mental status or motor response had been operated without a shunt. RESULTS: Cerebral ischemia requiring shunt was observed in one case (3.3%). There were no permanent neurologic deficit and major cardiovascular complication and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Carotid endarterectomy under cervical plexus block allows direct and precise observation of the patient's central nervous system function during the operation.
Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; Central Nervous System ; Cervical Plexus* ; Constriction ; Endarterectomy, Carotid* ; Hand ; Horns ; Humans ; Mortality ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Play and Playthings

PURPOSE: We evaluated the postoperative accuracy of intraocular lens power prediction for patients undergoing phacotrabeculectomy and identified preoperative factors associated with refractive outcome in those with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 27 patients who underwent phacotrabeculectomy to treat POAG. We recorded all discrepancies between predicted and actual postoperative refractions. We compared the data to those of an age- and sex-matched control group that underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery during the same time period. Preoperative factors associated with the mean absolute error (MAE) were identified via multivariate regression analyses. RESULTS: The mean refractive error of the 27 eyes that underwent phacotrabeculectomy was comparable to that of the 27 eyes treated via phacoemulsification (+0.02 vs. −0.01 D, p = 0.802). The phacotrabeculectomy group exhibited a significantly higher MAE (0.65 vs. 0.35 D, p = 0.035) and more postoperative astigmatism (−1.07 vs. −0.66 D, p = 0.020) than the phacoemulsification group. The preoperative anterior chamber depth (ACD) and the changes in the postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) were significantly associated with a greater MAE after phacotrabeculectomy. CONCLUSIONS: POAG treatment via combined phacoemulsification/trabeculectomy was associated with greater error in terms of final refraction prediction, and more postoperative astigmatism. As both a shallow preoperative ACD and a greater postoperative change in IOP appear to increase the predictive error, these two factors should be considered when planning phacotrabeculectomy.
Anterior Chamber ; Astigmatism ; Cataract ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Medical Records ; Phacoemulsification ; Refractive Errors ; Retrospective Studies