PURPOSE: Information has been limited on the genetic control of germ cell apoptosis and its role in the pathogenesis of male infertility. The object of this study was to investigate the effects of c-kit gene expression and apoptosis on human spermatogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Testicular specimens were obtained from 90 infertile males with nonobstructive azoospermia(NOA) due to primary testicular failure and from 9 healthy volunteers. The specimens of infertile men were divided into 4 groups according to hitopathologic findings: Sertoli cell only(SCO) syndrome(A), maturation arrest(B), hypospermatogenesis(C) and disorganization with sloughing(D). C-kit gene expression and apoptosis were detected with immunohistochemical stain. RESULTS: The frequency of c-kit expression was lower(p<0.05) and that of apoptosis was higher(p<0.01) in infertility groups B, C, and D compared to that of the control group. A significant inverse correlation was observed in the c-kit gene expression and apoptosis in groups B, C and D(p<0.05). A similar relationship was also observed in the Sertoli cells in group D and the control group. CONCLUSIONS: With the result, we suggest that variation in c-kit gene expression and apoptosis are associated with abnormal spermatogenesis and play a role in the pathophysiology of male infertility.
Apoptosis* ; Gene Expression ; Germ Cells ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatogenesis* ; Testis

No abstract available.
Myofibromatosis* ; Skull*

No abstract available.
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic*

Cephalosporins are B-lactam antibiotics. They are usually bactericidal in action and act by inhibiting mucopeptide synthesis in the bacterial cell wall. Cephalosporins have been used widely in Korea. However, allergic contact dermatitis to cephalosporins has not been reported in the Korean dermatologiy literature. We report a case of allergic contact dermatitis due to cephalosporins in a 23-year-old nurse who suffered from itchy, erythematous patches and plaques with numerous fissures on both hands. A patch test with ceftriaxone and a prick test with cefotiam were positive.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cefotiam ; Ceftriaxone ; Cell Wall ; Cephalosporins* ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Hand ; Humans ; Korea ; Patch Tests ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome after Ahmed valve implantation in patients with neovascular glaucoma when using intraoperative mitomycin C (MMC) and postoperative 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). METHODS: A total of 40 eyes of 40 patients with neovascular glaucoma who received antiglacomatous medication without previous glaucoma surgery were included in the present study. The patients received Ahmed valve implantation and intraoperative MMC and postoperative 5-FU. Failure was defined as the first occurrence of any of the following: 1) the first of three consecutive visits where intraocular pressure (IOP) was >18 mmHg or 20% IOP reduction from baseline and the final number of topical medication did not reduce by at least two from baseline, 2) the need for additional surgery, or 3) the occurrence of a serious complication. RESULTS: The cumulative success rate was 77.5% at 12 months. The final number of topical medication after Ahmed valve implantation was 0.73+/-0.78, and the change in the number of medication from baseline was -2.18+/-0.84. Serious complications such as endophthalmitis, valve exposure or prolonged hypotony were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: The adjunctive use of intraoperative MMC and postoperative 5-FU with Ahmed valve implantation results in a high success rate and good IOP control and did not show serious complications within the postoperative period.
Endophthalmitis ; Eye ; Fluorouracil ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Neovascular ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Mitomycin ; Postoperative Period

Complications of penile prosthesis include malfunction, infection and patient dissatisfaction. Herein, a rare complication of a retained reservoir having eroded into the bladder after the removal of the penile components of a three-piece penile prosthesis, is reported. A 39-year-old man complained of irritative voiding symptoms. The symptoms had developed 4 years after the removal of the penile components of the prosthesis. The erosion of the reservoir into the bladder was discovered incidentally during the treatment of bladder calculi. The reservoir was removed by an open vesicolithotomy.
Adult ; Calculi ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Humans ; Penile Prosthesis* ; Prostheses and Implants ; Urinary Bladder Calculi* ; Urinary Bladder*

We report an uncommon case of sebaceous adenoma in a 36-year-old male who had a solitary, well-de6ned, 0.5×0.8cm sized, round, erythematous nodule on the right side of his forehead. Microscopically, the nodule was composed of poorly developed sebaceous lobules that were irregular in size and shape in the deep reticular dermis. The lobules were composed of mature sebaceous cells in the center and undifferentiated basaloid cells at the periphery. In most lobules, the two types of cells occured in approximately equal proportions. We excised the lesion completely and no evidence of recurrence was observed for 2 years.
Adenoma* ; Adult ; Dermis ; Forehead ; Humans ; Male ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a strong urticariogenic agent and a primary irritant. A DMSO test which measures erythema and wheal responses in skin after exposure for 5 min could be a simple and easy method in evaluating cutaneous irritation. Several non-invasive bioengineering methods for the evaluation of skin irritancy have been developed in recent decades. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the DMSO test using filter paper discs instead of the open well with measurements of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and erythema index (E-index) could be useful to study skin irritancy. METHODS: Twenty healthy volunteers (19-29 years, 10 males and 10 females) with no history of atopic dermatitis were included. DMSO solutions (90%, 95%, and 100%) of 60l were applied to the left volar forearm for 5 min using filter paper discs (12mm) for large Finn chamber. Visual scores (whealing scores and erythema), TEWL and E-index were measured at 30 min after removal of the filter papers. RESULTS: The number of subjects showing erythema and wheals after DMSO exposure were: 6 (30%), 8 (40%) with 90% DMSO solution; 14 (70%), 15 (75%) with 95% DMSO solution; and 20 (100%), 20 (100%) with 100% DMSO solution, respectively. Whealing scores were 0.5±0.6 (90%), 1.4±1.1 (95%), 3.5±0.9 (100%), and erythema ones were 2.9±4.9 (90%), 7.7±7.2 (95%), 20.0±6.5 (100%). E-index results were 10.0±3.4 (90%), 10.9±3.1 (95%), 12.3±2.7 (100%), and TEWL values were 14.6±4.9 (90%), 21.0±8.8 (95%), 44.9±15.3 (100%). As the DMSO concentrations were increased, there were significant increases in whealing scores, and erythema and TEWL values. E-index results were not significant, but showed a rising score tendency. There were no significant differences between the males and the females. CONCLUSION: DMSO testing may be a quick and simple method to assess cutaneous irritation. Also, TEWL measurements may be more accurate and sensitive than those of E-index measurement in the assessment of erythema and wheals. DMSO testing using filter paper discs with TEWL measurement could be a useful method in the study of cutaneous irritation.
Bioengineering ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide* ; Erythema ; Female ; Forearm* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans* ; Male ; Methods ; Skin* ; Water

BACKGROUND: Using biochemical and immunohistochemical studies, alterations of cytokeratin expression has been reported in seborrheic keratosis. OBJECTIVE: To further investigate the cytokeratin expression in seborrheic keratosis, we have done immunohistochemical staining using a panel of specific anti-keratin antibodies in this study. We also observed the cytokeratin expression in the hair, sebaceous gland and sweat gland of the some epidermis. METHODS: Twenty cases of seborrheic keratosis were collected from the pathologic files. The histological types included acanthotic type (13 cases), hyperkeratotic type (5 cases), and pigmented type (2 cases). All tissues had been fixed in formalin and then paraffin-embedded according to conventional procedures. Each section was mounted on a gelatin-coated glass slide, and incubated with various anti-keratin antibodies. The sections were then immunostained using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex system. The peroxidase reaction was visualized with diaminobenzidine (DAB). RESULTS: 1. Cytokeratin expression in seborrheic keratosis lesions On staining with 34βB4 (K1), several staining patterns in the suprabasal layers of the epidermis were observed in 10 out of 20 cases. Using the AE1 (K10,14,15), we observed focal staining in 2 cases. We observed several positive staining patterns in 5 cases with K13,16 antibody. On staining with K10 antibody, we observed focal or irregular staining patterns in 14 cases. Focal staining was also observed with K5,8 antibody in one case. 2. Cytokeratin expression in the hair, sebaceous gland and sweat gland On immunoperoxidase staining of hair, there were positive reactions with CAM5.2 (K8,18) in 2 cases. There were positive reaction with K13,16 antibody in one case, with 34βB4 (K1), and K10 antibody in 3 cases, and with K17 antibody in 2 cases. On immunoperoxidase staining of sebaceous glands, there was one positive reaction with CAM5.2 (K8,18) in the suprabasal cells of sebaceous glands and with K13,16 antibody in sebaceous ducts. There were positive reactions with K17 antibody in the sebaceous ducts in 2 cases, and with K1 antibody in the sebaceous glands in one case. Using 34βB4 (K1), 4 out of 20 cases showed positive reactions in sweat glands. On staining with AE1 (K10,14,15), positive reactions were observed in 8 cases. Staining with CAM5.2 (K8,18) showed positive reactions in 14 cases. There were positive reactions with K19 antibody in 9 cases. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that the predominant keratin expression in the tumor cells of seborrheic keratosis is high molecular weight keratin (K1/K10) rather than other lower molecular weight keratin. Tumor cells show some proliferative activity and monoclonal antibody K19 could be a marker for eccrine sweat glands like CAM5.2 (K8,18).
Antibodies ; Epidermis ; Formaldehyde ; Glass ; Hair ; Keratins* ; Keratosis, Seborrheic* ; Molecular Weight ; Peroxidase ; Sebaceous Glands ; Sweat Glands

Myelopathy or dysfunction of the spinal cord, can be caused by degenerative processes of the cervical vertebrae. Cervical spondylotic myelopathy can be divided into five distinct syndromes on the basis of clinical presentation by Ferguson. Absolute indication for surgery is the progression of neurologic deficit. Decompression may be achieved using an anterior, posterior, or a combined approach, but each patient has unique clinical conditions that require individualized treatment. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the operative results by the clinical manifestation. In evaluating the results, the evaluation system established by the Japanese Orthopedic Association was employed. The average preoperative score in the 14 patient was 8.7 points and the average postoperative score was 12.7 points. The better results have been obtained for those who were managed with decompression within 1 year after onset of symptoms and those who had lateral type. In conclusion, the prognosis for the recovery of the spinal cord function is related with the onset of clinical symptoms and degree of neurological deterioration, so early detection and operative decompression for cervical spondylotic myelopathy may be the best method for the prevention of those unwanted and potentially devastating neurological deteriorations.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Decompression ; Female ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Orthopedics ; Prognosis ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Diseases*