We evaluated the availability of toluidine blue stain in body fluids, such as peritoneal and pleural fluid and urine. Nine hundreds specimens, i.e., 400 pleural and 400 peritoneal fluids and 100 urine samples, respectively, from Jan. 1995 to May 1996 were included. We obtained the result of high sensitivity and high specificity in toluidine blue stained body fluid in comparison with Papanicolaou stained result. Additionally, we found the diagnostically important crystals in chylothorax and some urine samples, which can not be seen in routine Papanicolaou stain. We thought the toluidine blue stain in body fluid is one of very useful diagnostic methods.
Ascitic Fluid ; Body Fluids ; Chylothorax ; Proteinuria* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tolonium Chloride

This study was undertaken to investigate the in vivo effects of cyclophosphamide (CY) on subpopulations of macrophages and other types of immune cells including dendritic cells (DCs) as well as on ICAM-1 expression in the spleen of rats. After a single dose of CY (150 mg/kg) was administered to Sprague-Dawley rats by intraperitoneal injection, the rats were sacrificed at 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days. The immunocytochemical characterization of the tissues were carried out using the monoclonal antibodies W3/25, OX8, HIS24, 8A2, OX6, OX62, ED1, ED2, ED3, and TLD-4C9 for analysis of macrophage subpopulations, DC(s), CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, B cells and ICAM-1 expression in cryostat-cut sections. CY exhibited a profound immunosuppressive effect on CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells as well as B cells as was expected. However, it was found that CY induced an increase in number of certain subpopulations of macrophages, including ED1(+), ED2(+) and ED3(+) macrophages. Contrarily, CY elicited a decrease in number of DCs. CY induced a conspi-cuous upregulation of ICAM-1 on certain populations of leukocytes. This increased expression of ICAM-1 after CY treatment appears to be related with the recruitment of certain populations of leukocytes. Most of these features began to appear from the first day and reached the maximun on the third and especially, the seventh day, but two weeks after CY administration, these phenomena declined. In conclusion, the present study provided a new insight into the differential effects of CY on various populations and subpopulations of immune cells in the rat spleen.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; B-Lymphocytes ; Cyclophosphamide* ; Dendritic Cells ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Leukocytes ; Macrophages* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spleen* ; T-Lymphocytes ; Up-Regulation

Under the current African swine fever (ASF) epidemic situation, a science-based ASF-control strategy is required. An ASF transmission mechanistic model can be used to understand the disease transmission dynamics among susceptible epidemiological units and evaluate the effectiveness of an ASF-control strategy by simulating disease spread results with different control options. The force of infection, which is the probability that a susceptible epidemiological unit becomes infected, could be estimated by applying an ASF transmission mechanistic model. The government needs to plan an ASF-control strategy based on an ASF transmission mechanistic model.

Irreparable obstructive azoospermic patients can be treated successfully with microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration(MESA) o. testicular sperm extraction (TESE) by intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI). Obstructive azoospermic patients generally have normal spermatogenesis. The aim of this study was to see if any spermatozoa could be retrieved from non-obstructive azoospermia and to assess the efficacy of ICSI with TESE in germinal failure. 42 non-obstructive azoospermic patients revealed no spermatozoa at all in their ejaculates, even after centrifuge. The histology of 42 patients revealed 15 Sertoli cell only Syndrome, 4 maturation arrest and 23 severe hypospermatogenesis. All patients underwent extensive multiple testicular biopsy for sperm retrieval. These patients were scheduled for ICSI using testicular spermatozoa. In 25 out of 42 non-obstructive azoospermic patients, spermatozoa were recovered from multiple testicular biopsy specimen and 11 ongoing pregnancies were achieved. There are usually some tiny foci of spermatogenesis which allow TESE with ICSI in non-obstructive azoospermia. Also these patients may have sufficient sperm in the testes for ICSI, despite extremely high FSH level and small testes.
Azoospermia* ; Biopsy ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; Pregnancy ; Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Sperm Retrieval ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatozoa ; Testis

No abstract available.
Hypothyroidism* ; Myasthenia Gravis*

BACKGROUND: To compare flexible ring with rigid ring for annular remodeling and hemodynamic changes of left ventricle (LV) in mitral valve repair (MVR) at short term interval. METHODS: From January 1998 to March 2001, 35 patients with mitral valve prolapse underwent mitral valve repair with ring annuloplasty. The mean age of these patients was 49 years. Eighteen patients underwent mitral annuloplasty with Carpentier-Edwards Classic-ring (Group A). Seventeen patients underwent mitral annuloplasty with Physio-ring (Group B). LV fun-ction and annulus size were assessed by echocardiography on the day before operation and 2 to 3 months later. Mitral annular motion had been examined by means of the extent of mitral annular systolic excursion (MASE) as measured in two longitudinal LV segments (septal and lateral). RESULTS: 1) In valve pathology, anterior leaflet lesion was 14 cases, posterior was 14, combined lesion was 7 cases. 2) At all, left ventricular end-systolic dimension, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension and LV mass decreased postoperatively. But, no differences existed between the groups. 3) Postoperatively (after 2-3 months), echocardiograms in 35 patients demonstrated no mitral regurgitation (MR) in 16 cases, trace to mild MR in 17 cases, moderate MR in 2 patients. In Classic-ring group, MR was demostrated in 11 cases (61%). In Physio-group, MR was demonstrated in 8 cases (47%). 4) Postoperatively, mitral valve area increased significantly only in patients with Physio-ring (1.93+/-0.33 vs 2.38+/-0.92, p<0.05). 5) No differences existed between the groups in MASE. CONCLUSION: There are the significant reduc-tion in cardiac chambers and annulus size and improvement of LV function after both types of ring annuloplasty at short term result. There are no significant differences between Classic-ring and Physio-ring except 2 cases postrepair SAM (systolic anterior motion) of mitral valve in Classic-ring.
Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Heart Ventricles* ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Annuloplasty ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve Prolapse* ; Mitral Valve* ; Pathology

PURPOSE: Complete septal extension grafts have been widely used in rhinoplasty for effective projection of the short retruded columella in Asian patients. Autologous septal cartilages and porous high-density polyethylene sheets are frequently used as septal extension grafts. This study was conducted to compare the postoperative results of porous polyethylene sheets and septal cartilages used for correction of unilateral cleft lip nasal deformities by using photogrammetric analysis. METHODS: This study investigated a total of 49 patients with cleft lip nasal deformities who underwent corrective surgery, and were followed up for at least 6 months. Septal cartilages were used in 39 patients, and porous polyethylene sheets were used in 10 patients. In all patients, through the open rhinoplasty, complete septal extension grafts were sutured to the caudal margin of the septal cartilage, and the alar cartilage was sutured with suspension. The cleft side alar cartilage was overcorrected by approximately 3 - 5 mm. Postoperative outcomes were evaluated by using photogrammetric analysis. Five indices and 4 angles were measured on their photographs taken before and after the surgery. In patients with unilateral cleft lip nasal deformities, symmetry was also evaluated by means of columellar length index. RESULTS: The postoperative values obtained in photogrammetric analysis showed improvements in comparison with the preoperative ones. The polyethylene group produced more improved outcomes than the septal cartilage group but also resulted in more complications at the same time. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicates that complete septal extension grafts are efficient for the correction of unilateral cleft lip nasal deformities. However, since postoperative complications occur more frequently in the polyethylene group than in the septal cartilage group, caution is advised in using porous high-density polyethylene sheets in patients with cleft lip nasal deformities.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cartilage ; Cleft Lip ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Nasal Cartilages ; Polyethylene ; Postoperative Complications ; Rhinoplasty ; Succinates ; Transplants

This study was carried to determine the possibility of finding motile spermatozoa and fertilization, pregnancy rate after testicular sperm extraction(TESE) with ICSI in obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermic patients. In 154 cases(132 patients), obstructive azoospermia was 77 cases and non-obstructive azoospermia was 77 cases. In obstructive azoospermia, patients generally showed normal spermatogenesis and included vas agenesis(n=8), multiple vas obstruction(n=7), epididymal obstruction (n=54). Total of 982 retrieved oocytes were obtained and 84.4% were injected. The fertilization rates with 2 PN and cleavage rate were 72.5% and 62.3%, .respectively. 30 pregnancies(38.9%) were achieved and the ongoing pregnancies were 22 cases (28.6%). In non-obstructive azoospermia, patients showed hypospermatogenesis(n=49), maturation arrest(n=4), Sertoli cell only syndrome (n=24). The various stages of spermatogenic cell could be retrieved by TESE and could be reached normal fertilization and embryo development with ICSI. Total of 1072 retrieved oocytes obtained and 80.2% were injected. The fertilization rates with 2 PN and cleavage rate were 52.8% and 68.9%, respectively. 22 pregnancies(30.1%) were achieved and the ongoing pregnancies were 19 cases(26.0%). Conclusively, the combination of TESE with ICSI using testicular spermatozoa can achieve normal fertilization and pregnancy rate and effective method in obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermic patients.
Azoospermia ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Fertilization* ; Humans ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy Rate* ; Pregnancy* ; Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatozoa*

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiological events resulting in keloid formation remain unclear. Overabundant levels of VEGF have been reported to contribute to excessive wound healing. There have been many studies describing the relationship between keloids and VEGF expression. However, there have been no reports about VEGF expression related to donor sites. OBJECTIVE: We investigated VEGF expression of cultured normal and keloid fibroblasts obtained from different body areas under normoxic and hypoxic culture conditions. METHODS: Normal fibroblasts from the earlobe (n=2), shoulder (n=2) and chest (n=2) as well as keloid fibroblasts from the earlobe (n=3), shoulder (n=3) and chest (n=3) were collected and cultured. VEGF expression of fibroblasts at 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours for cells maintained under normoxic and hypoxic conditions was measured by the use of RT-PCR. Paraffin-embedded tissues (normal and keloid tissue) were assayed by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: For the cultured normal fibroblasts, VEGF expression for cells in the hypoxic condition was higher as compared to VEGF expression in cells in the normoxic condition, irrespective of the donor site and time. However, for the cultured keloid fibroblasts, VEGF expression for cells in the hypoxic condition was higher as compared to VEGF expression in cells in the normoxic condition for cultured shoulder fibroblasts. For each donor site, VEGF expression was highest in the shoulder, followed by the chest and earlobe for cultured normal fibroblasts, irrespective of time. For the cultured keloid fibroblasts, the highest VEGF expression occurred at 6 hours for cells in the normoxic condition and the highest VEGF expression occurred at 6 hours and 12 hours for cells in the hypoxic condition. Based on immunohistochemical staining, VEGF expression of paraffin-embedded normal tissue was lower as compared to paraffin-embedded keloid tissue. For each donor site in paraffin-embedded keloid tissue, VEGF expression was highest in the shoulder, followed by the chest and earlobe. CONCLUSION: Oxygen tension and the nature of fibroblasts from different donor sites are involved in keloid pathogenesis.
Anoxia ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Keloid ; Oxygen ; Shoulder ; Thorax ; Tissue Donors ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUND: A pincer nail deformity is characterized by the presence of an excessively curved and distorted nail across the transverse dimension, particularly at the distal part of the nail plate. A multitude of therapeutic modalities has been implemented to treat this condition with limited efficacy. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the efficacy of surgery of a pincer nail deformity with the use of the modified Haneke's method. METHODS: Six patients (seven toenails and two fingernails) with pincer nail deformities were treated with the modified Haneke's method. Objective assessment was evaluated by use of the width index (width of the nail tip/width of the nail root) and height index (height of the nail tip/width of the nail root). Subjective assessment was evaluated by use of a visual analogue scale declared by patients. In addition, wound complications and recurrence were described. RESULTS: The width index and height index were improved (width index: 15.4%-->7.1%, height index: 63.9%-->1.9%). Relief of pain could be determined in 100% of the cases. For subjective assessment, all of the patients were satisfactory (more than "satisfactory": 100%). There was no recurrence during a 14 to 24 month period (mean time: 19.2 months). CONCLUSION: The modified Haneke's method as a surgical approach might be effective and the procedure is easy to perform for a pincer nail deformity.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Nails ; Recurrence