We performed erotic stimulation that in 63 patients with erectile dysfunction in order to investigate erectile responses to visual sexual stimulation in patients with psychogenic and organic impotence and to elucidate valuable parameters for differential diagnosis between psychogenic and organic impotence. After the test using polygraph system and erotic film, subjective sexual drive in each patient was evaluated as grade I (poor), grade II (moderate), grade III (good). Following parameters were statistically analyzed : degree of maximal rigidity, degree of maximal tumescence, T -up phase (time taking place from the beginning of the erection to maximal level). The T-max phase (time taking place for the plateau phase of maximal erection). The results obtained were summarized as follows. Regardless of sexual drive of each patient, psychogenic impotence group showed better maximal rigidity and shorter T-up phase of rigidity than organic impotence group (p<0.05}. Of patients with psychogenic impotence, good sexual drive group showed better maximal rigidity and maximal tumescence than poor sexual drive group (p<0.06). Psychogenic impotence group showing good sexual drive revealed much better maximal rigidity and shorter T-up phase of rigidity than organic impotence group with same degree of sexual drive (p<0.05). These results indicate erotic stimulation test is highly valuable method for differential diagnosis between psychogenic and organic impotence, especially when the patient shows sexual drive in moderate or good degree. And it is suggested that maximal rigidigity and T-up phase of erection parameters in erotic stimulation test provide high validity for the differention.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Erectile Dysfunction* ; Humans ; Male

The migration of intra-uterine devices into the bladder with the formation of stone occurs rarely. We report a case of bladder stone developed on Lippes loop migrated from the uterus.
Foreign Bodies ; Intrauterine Devices* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Calculi ; Uterus

The various biomechanical responses such as stress distribution, facet contact force and nucleus pressure change in the lumbar spine under vertical static and dynamic loading conditions were. Investigated with a nonlinear three dimensional finite element model. Finite element model of one motion segment, consisted of two vertebral bodies(L3-4) with one disc, was developed from 1 mm thick transverse CT cross-sections. Geometrical nonlinearity was also considered for the large deformation on the disc. ABACUS package was used for calculation and its results were verified comparing with the existing in-vitro experimental data. Clinically useful results could be obtained with this analysis. Stress was concentrated on the endplate under static and dynamic loading condition, especially posterior and anterior aspect and central portion along midsagittal plane. The facet contact force showed some discontinuity when Δt/2=0.03 sec. This discontinuity was considered to de due to the vibration of upper vertebra. Relatively smooth contact force profile was detected when t/2=0.1342 sec. Intradiscal pressure and stress pattern changes on the vertebra were also analyzed.
Spine ; Vibration

No abstract available.
Diaphragm* ; Stomach Volvulus*

Cell kinetic information is an important adjunct to histologically-based tumor classification. Studies on growth regulation and cellular transformation will be assisted by the identification of proteins that are synthesized in dividing cells. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) also known as cyclin, is a cell cycle-related nuclear protein that is maximally elevated in late G1 and S phases of proliferating cells. PCNA reacts with proliferating cells including tumor cells but gives undetectable immunofluorescence with resting cells of normal tissue. NORs are loop of DNA which occur in nucleoli and possess ribosomal DNA genes. Ribosomal DNA genes are of vital significance in the ultimate synthesis of protein, and that protein associated with NORs are stained with silver nitrate(Ag-NORs). AgNORs were studied in various tumors and may reflect the activity of cells and may be an indicator of the degree of malignancy. To evaluate the correlation between cellular proliferating activity and variable prognostic parameters, an immunohistochemical staining for PCNA and silver nitrate staining of NORs were performed in 23 cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma and 10 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia, as control. The results were summarized as follows; 1. The mean expression of PCNA in BPH, well, moderately and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma was 8.17+/-2.77(mean+/-SD ;n = 10), 21.75+/-6.11(n = 6), 19.40+/-6.98 (n=10) 27.93+/-8.23%(n=7), respectively in each group. Statistically significant differences were found in each group (p <0.05) except between well and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. 2. The mean number of Ag-NORs in BPH, well, moderately and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma was 1.24+/-0.10(mean+/-SD;n=10), 1.87+/-0.23(n=6), 2.08+/-0.28(n=10) 4.02+/-0.22 (n = 7), respectively in each group. As the grade of tissues increased, the mean number of Ag-NORs increased too. The results showed statistically significant differences in each group (p < 0.05) except between well and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. 3. The mean area of Ag-NORs calculated by morphometry in BPH, well, moderately and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma was 5.40+/-1.8um2, 7.84+/-3.68um2, 14.02+/-4.95um2, 23.9+/-6.94um2, respectively and significant differences was found statistically in each group (p < 0.05 ). 4. There was significant correlation between the expression of PCNA and the number of AgNORs(r= 0.800, p= 0.0001), the expression of PCNA and the area of AgNORs (r=0.788, p=0.0001). We concluded that the expression of PCNA and the number and area of NORs were increased with the degree of malignancy and may reflect the proliferative activity of cells in prostatic adenocarcinoma. PCNA and Ag-NORs may be a valuable prognostic indicator of patient's survival, but further studies will be needed to confirm its exact prognostic role.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Classification ; Cyclins ; DNA ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Nuclear Proteins ; Nucleolus Organizer Region* ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; S Phase ; Silver ; Silver Staining

BACKGROUND: Phenol is the most commonly used neurolytic agent for the management of intractable somatic pain, but side effects such as motor dysfunction and potential loss of bladder or rectal sphincter function develop following their application. This study observed functional changes of hind limb and neuropathologic changes in the sciatic nerve after phenol application, highlighting the time of nerve regeneration. METHODS: Functional changes in hind limbs were observed for 6 weeks and the distal part of the phenol-injected or dripped sciatic nerve was severed in 3 rats of each group respectively at 10 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks. The pathologic changes in the severed nerves were observed under the electron microscope. RESULTS: The phenol-injected or-dripped hind limbs showed more pronounced motor weakness and more obvious gait changes. About 2 weeks after the phenol application, gradual improvement of gait changes began, and after 6 weeks, motor weakness and gait changes were no longer perceptible. In the group with phenol injection, at 10 minutes after injection, destructive lesions were confined to unmyelinated fibers and the myelin sheath of small myelinated fibers. On the 3rd day and at 1 week, pathologic changes on axonal fibers and Schwann cells were in progress with phagocytosis in spite of myelin restitution. From 2 to 4 weeks, axonal regeneration and remyelination appeared concurrent with myelin disintegration and axonolysis, and histologic findings at 6 weeks were similar to those of the control group. In the group with phenol drip, the histologic changes in the sciatic nerve were very similar to the injection group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that histopathologic lesions after a phenol application on the peripheral nerves are not influenced by application methods. The progress of histopathologic changes is obvious according to the time interval following the phenol application. Accordingly, side effectsthat developed following the use of phenol may be improved around the time when the nerve regeneration occurs, between the second and fourth weeks after the injection. The course of histopathologic changes and clinical findings following the application of phenol is very similar to the previous experiment using alcohol.
Animals ; Axons ; Extremities ; Gait ; Myelin Sheath ; Nerve Regeneration ; Nociceptive Pain ; Peripheral Nerves ; Phagocytosis ; Phenol* ; Rats ; Regeneration ; Schwann Cells ; Sciatic Nerve* ; Urinary Bladder

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Loosening or fracture of the abutment screw is one of the common problems related to the dental implant. Generally, in order to make the screw joint stable, the preload generated by tightening torque needs to be increased within the elastic limit of the screw. However, additional tensile forces can produce the plastic deformation of abutment screw when functional loads are superimposed on preload stresses, and they can elicit loosening or fracture of the abutment screw. Therefore, it is necessary to find the optimum tightening torque that maximizes a fatigue life and simultaneously offer a reasonable degree of protection against loosening. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to present the influence of tightening torque on the implant-abutment screw joint stability with the 3 dimensional finite element analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, the finite element model of the implant system with external butt joint connection was designed and verified by comparison with additional theoretical and experimental results. Four different amount of tightening torques (10, 20, 30 and 40 Ncm) and the external loading (250 N, 30degrees C) were applied to the model, and the equivalent stress distributions and the gap distances were calculated according to each tightening torque and the result was analyzed. RESULTS: Within the limitation of this study, the following results were drawn; 1) There was the proportional relation between the tightening torque and the preload. 2) In case of applying only the tightening torque, the maximum stress was found at the screw neck. 3) The maximum stress was also shown at the screw neck under the external loading condition. However in case of applying 10 Ncm tightening torque, it was found at the undersurface of the screw head. 4) The joint opening was observed under the external loading in case of applying 10 Ncm and 20 Ncm of tightening torque. 5) When the tightening torque was applied at 40 Ncm, under the external loading the maximum stress exceeded the allowable stress value of the titanium alloy. CONCLUSION: Implant abutment screw must have a proper tightening torque that will be able to maintain joint stability of fixture and abutment.
Alloys ; Dental Implants ; Fatigue ; Finite Element Analysis ; Head ; Joints ; Neck ; Plastics ; Titanium ; Torque

We report two cases of cutaneous Mycobacterium(M.) marinum infections in a 43-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman who had multiple subcutaneous nodules on the left upper extremity and an erythematous ulcer on the right elbow, respectively. Skin biopsy specimens revealed chronic granulamatous inflammation and AFB positive bacilli in the dermis. The culture from tissue specimens on Lowenstein-Jensen media at 30'C for 10 days, yielded cream-colored colonies, which became yellow when exposed to light. The organism was identified as M. marinum by selected biochemical reactions. The patients were treated with surgical excision followed by administration of minocycline and administration of minocycline, respectively.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Dermis ; Elbow ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Minocycline ; Mycobacterium marinum* ; Mycobacterium* ; Skin ; Ulcer ; Upper Extremity

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between obesity indices (body mass index, weight, waist-hip ratio and waist circumference) in adolescents and the carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) in early adulthood. We also wanted to identify the best predictor for C-IMT among these obesity indices. METHODS: This study used community-based prospective cohort study, known as the Kangwha Study, and the data we used were from subjects who were 16-years old in 1996 (defined as "adolescencec") and 25 years-old in 2005 (defined as "early adulthoodc"). The 256 subjects (113 men and 143 women) who were used for analysis participated in both follow-ups, and they underwent B-mode ultrasonography of the carotid arteries at the early adulthood follow-up. Obesity indices were defined as the body mass index, weight, waist-hip ratio and waist circumference. The C-IMT was defined as the mean of the maximal IMT of each common carotid artery. The C-IMT and obesity indices associations were evaluated via multivariable regression, logistic regression and the receiver-operator characteristic curve analyses. RESULTS: In men, all the obesity indices in adolescence were showed to have statistically significant positive association with C-IMT in early adulthood. However, no such relationship was showed in women. On multiple regression and logistic regression analysis, the waist-hip ratio showed the biggest relationship with the C-IMT among the 4 obesity indices. However, there were no statistical significant differences and no best predictor was found. For the women, the obesity incidences and C-IMT showed no relationships. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that obesity in adolescence was related to an increase C-IMT in healthy young Korean men.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Glucose/analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Carotid Arteries/*pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Lipids/blood ; Male ; Obesity/*pathology/physiopathology ; Prospective Studies ; Sex Factors ; Tunica Intima/*pathology ; Waist-Hip Ratio

Percutaneous removal of renal and upper ureteral stone is becoming an established procedure, especially for stones lying free in the pelvis. The kidneys, which are frequently malformed. often lay within the kyphosis and it is hard to do open surgery. We report 4 cases of renal or upper ureteral stones managed with percutaneous nephrolithotomy(PNL) in kyphosis patients.
Deception ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kyphosis* ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous* ; Pelvis ; Ureter