PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to estimate development of secondary sex characters and genitalia including testicular volume, penile length and girth, and prevalence of varicocele. In addition, we evalua ted the relationship between testicular volume and presence of varicocele. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted on 893 school boys between the ages of 14 to 15 years, 3rd grade middle school in Chonju city during the period september to October, 1999. The testicular volume was measured in the upright posture using Prader's orchidometer and penile length and girth were estimated with a ruler. Varicocele was evaluated by dubin's method. RESULTS: The testis volume (mean+/-SD) was 10.20+/-2.6ml on right and 9.93+/-2.6 on left and penile length (mean+/-SD) was 10.9+/-1.6cm and penile girth (mean+/-SD) was 8.0+/-0.8cm. The prevalence of varicocele was 38.2% (342/893) in left side, 16%(146/893) in right side. The difference in testicular volume between right and left testis was statistically significant in students with unilateral varicocele than the students without varicocele (0.78+/-1.06ml v/s, 0.54+/-1.01ml, p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we obtained mean testicular volume, penile length and girth and higher incidence rate of varicocele on adolescent school age group in Chonju area. The difference in testicular varicocele. The reduction of the testicular volume with varicocele correlated with the severity of grade of varicocele need following up to disclose the effect of the varicocele on the testicular growth and fertility potential.
Adolescent ; Fertility ; Genitalia* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Jeollabuk-do* ; Posture ; Prevalence* ; Testis ; Varicocele*

No abstract available.
Seminal Vesicles* ; Ureter*

Percutaneous method of Al pulley release for the trigger fingers using hypodermic needle or small sharp scalpel has been described by some authors. In our experience, however, these methods had some difficulties in handling the instruments and not easy to utilize proper technique. Therefore we designed a special scalpel for easy and safe percutaneous release of the Al pulley. The scalpel has a hook shaped end with a blade on the inner side. Insertion site through the skin should be 0.5cm distal to the Al pulley, and the hooked end is located at the proximal margin of the Al pulley followed by longitudinal cut of the pulley distally. We performed this procedure in 44 trigger fingers of 41 patients in our out-patient clinic. There were 9 males and 32 females with a mean age of 54.4 years (range, 24 to 83 years). Affected digits were 23 thumbs, 1 index, 13 middle, 5 ring and 2 little fingers. 9 of them were locked in flexion or extension. The duration of symptom was an average of 7.9 months. After a mean follow up of 11.3 months, 42 fingers (95.4%) were completely free of symptoms including triggering. One had mild residual triggering due to incomplete release of the pulley and another had re-release of the pulley for remaining flexion limitation. One finger showed mild bowstringing after release, which subsided in 3 months. One patient complained of persistent pain and tenderness over the release site. There were no injuries of nerves or vessels and no infections. The duration of discomfort after release ranged from 3 to 70 days (av. 18.5 days). All patients, except one, were satisfied with the treatment method and their results. We think that percutaneous release of trigger fingers using our special scalpel is a very effective and convenient procedure both to surgeons and patients. It can be easily and safely performed in out-patient clinic with successful results.
Female ; Fingers* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Needles ; Outpatients ; Skin ; Thumb

The midcarpal joint has inherent instability in the sagittal plane. Several instability patterns of midcarpal joint due to ligament insufficiency have been presented. We ohserved the normal midcarpal and radiocarpal behaviors of ligament laxity in the sagittal plane to investigate the significance of dorsal and palmar stress test which has been used for evaluation of the non-dissociative carpal instahilities. We performed the dorsal and palmar displacement stress test on fifty pairs of normal wrist joints under the flouroscopic views. The midcarpal joints were subluxed, more on dorsal stress, with variable degrees. Dorsal subluxations in females and third decades were more prominent than males and fourth decades. Three types of radiocarpal instability on dorsal stress test could be observed. We think that displacement stress test in the sagittal plane should be interpreted in consideration of normal instability patterns in the evaluation of ahnormal midcarpal and radiocarpal instabilities since there are variable patterns and degrees of ligament laxity in normal wrist joints.
Exercise Test ; Female ; Humans ; Joints* ; Ligaments ; Male ; Wrist Joint

Elephantiasis nostras, the result of recurrent skin infection or chronic lymphedema is characterized by marked skin fibrosis and massive enlargement of a body part. We present a case of elephantiasis nostras due to chronic recurrent erysipelas which affected the lower extremities in a 62-year-old man. The patient had had persisting non-pitting edema, and tender multiple verrucous brownish plaques and nodules on both lower legs for 1 year. On histological examination, there was hyperkeratosis and papilomatosis in the epidermis, fibroplasia, dilated thick walled venules and collagen fibers oriented vertical to the skin surface, and hyperplasia of eccrine ducts in the dermis.
Collagen ; Dermis ; Edema ; Elephantiasis* ; Epidermis ; Erysipelas ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Lymphedema ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; Venules

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Multiple*

To determine the concentration and the physiologic role of metal components in blood plasma and seminal plasma in relation to male infertility, the concentrations of twelve metal components in blood plasma and seminal plasma including Na, Mg, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Cd and Pb were measured by atomic absorbance spectrophotometery or ion selective electrode analysis. Semen and blood samples were obtained from a total of 110 men including 70 male infertility patients, 20 vasectomized persons and 20 fertility proven volunteers visited to the Male Infertility Clinic of Pusan National University Hospital. The concentrations of Ca, Zn, Mg, Cr and Cd in control group were higher in seminal plasma than in blood plasma, and additionally Pb were higher in infertility group. The concentrations of all metal components revealed no significant difference according to patients' age, resident, occupation, sperm density, motility and hormone level in blood plasma, but some metal components including Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn, Cd and Pb revealed a significant difference according to each these parameters except patient's age in seminal plasma. The concentrations of Mn, Cd and Pb in the vasectomy persons were higher than in the infertility group III including testicular and epididymal factors, but not in blood plasma. We conclude that the quantitative changes of metal components in the seminal plasma may have effects on not only spermatogenesis and sperm function, but also contribute to diagnostic parameter according to organ specificity of the metal in the male reproduction.
Busan ; Electrodes ; Fertility ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male ; Male* ; Occupations ; Organ Specificity ; Plasma ; Reproduction ; Semen* ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatozoa ; Vasectomy ; Volunteers

The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory role of vitamin A with respect to activation of Ito cells in fibrosis of the rat liver induced by common bile duct ligation(CBDL). The liver was examined by immunohistochemical staining for a-smooth muscle actin,the known marker of activated Ito cells, and light and electron microscopy after CBDL andCBDL with intraperitoneal injection of retinoic acid (Sigma, USA) 1 mg/Kg in 3 times per week. The results were sumrrlerized as follows: After CBDL, the bile ductules were markedly proliferated in the periportal areas extending toterminal hepatic veins. Interstitial fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration appeared, however,cholestasis was minimal. Retinoic acid treatment with CBDL decreased bile ductular proliferationand interstitial fibrosis compared to CBDL only. After CBDL, proliferated and activated Ito ceIs showing positive reaction in smooth muscle actin were present in the periductular andperisinusoidal areas, and areas of increased interstitial fibrosis. Activated ito cells weredecreased in number after CBDL with vitamin A treatment. Electron microscopically,intracytoplasmic fat droplets and the cytoplasmic processes of Ito cells were decreased afterCBDL. Myofibroblasts were frequently appeared in the interstitial fibrosis after CBDL. But,intracytoplasmic fat droplets of Ito cells were well preserved, and myofibroblasts were found lessfrequently after CBDL with vitamin A treatment. The results suggest that vitamin A plays an inbitory role in the activation and fibrogenesis ofIto cells after CBDL.
Rats ; Animals

Clear cell hidradenoma, generally as an eccrine sweat gland origin, is a fairly uncommon tumor and occurs as a slowly growing, usually solitary nodule. The histological patterns vary from one tumor to another and in different parts of the same tumor. We experienced three cases of clear cell hidradenoma which were diagnosed by the histopathologic examination of the tumor mass removed by surgical excision. Clinical and histopathologic features of each case were reviewed and compared.
Acrospiroma* ; Sweat Glands

BACKGROUND: Acantholysis can be seen occasionally in the cutanous squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) as a result of degenerative changes of neoplastic cells. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to investigate the keratin attern and a wide range of immunohistochemical features of acantholytic cells of cutaneous SCC. METHODS: Seventeen cases of SCC showed acantholytic cells histoloieally and formalin-fixed, paraf-finembedded biopsy specimens from them were stained by ABC(avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex) staining. Fourteen biopsy specimens from 14 cases of SCC were staincd with 3 monoclonal anti-keratin antibodies(CAM 5.2, MAK-6, and 34bE12) and 17 biopsy spec:mcns from 17 cases of SCC were stained with antibodies agairist CEA(carcinoembryonic antigen), vitamin, S-100 protein, Factor VIII-R Ag, LCA(leukocyte common antigen), and lysozyme. RESULT & CONCLUSION: Acantholytic cells of 14 cases of SCC showed consistently negative staining with CAM 5.2. The acatholytic cells showed a wide range of reactivity with MAK-6 from negative to moderately strong positivity and with 34pE12 from negative to strong positivity. A few acantholytic cells of 6 cases of SCC showed weakly positive staining with anti-CEA antibody, but acantholytic cells of all 17 cases showed consistently negative staining wit,h the other antibodies.
Acantholysis ; Antibodies ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Muramidase ; Negative Staining ; S100 Proteins ; Skin* ; Vitamins