No abstract available.
Hair Removal*

BACKGROUND: Some studies have provided evidence for a possible association between vitamin D and testosterone levels; however, the evidence from studies in Koreans is inconsistent. In addition, insufficient evidence is available to support an association between seasonal variations in vitamin D and testosterone levels in Koreans. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between vitamin D and testosterone levels, and between seasonal variations in these levels in Korean men. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1,559 men, aged 25–86 years, who underwent a medical examination. We measured serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) and total testosterone levels, and compared other laboratory test results and patient lifestyle characteristics. On the basis of sample collection time, we categorized patients into four seasons, and analyzed seasonal variability in 25(OH)D and total testosterone levels. RESULTS: The average participant age (±standard deviation) was 53.3±8.8 years, and the average serum 25(OH)D and total testosterone levels were 15.9±7.0 ng/mL and 5.1±1.6 ng/mL, respectively. In the analysis of variance (ANOVA) model, no significant association was found between 25(OH)D and testosterone levels (P=0.51). ANOVA of the average 25(OH)D levels in season-based groups revealed significant seasonal variations in 25(OH)D levels (P-value for trend <0.001). No significant association was found between seasonal variations in total testosterone levels (P=0.06). However, after adjustment for confounding variables, total testosterone and 25(OH)D showed significant seasonal variability (P=0.007 and P<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: We found no significant correlation between serum 25(OH)D and total testosterone levels in Korean men. Moreover, serum 25(OH)D and total testosterone levels showed significant seasonal variations.
Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Seasons* ; Testosterone* ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

PURPOSE: To investigate involvement of chronic estrogen deficiency in impairment of relaxation response of the clitoral cavernous smooth muscle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: New Zealand white female rabbits were randomly divided control (sham operation, n=6) and experimental groups; 1) bilateral oophorectomy (n=8), 2) oophorectomy with estradiol replacement (n=7), 3) oophorectomy with flutamide treatment (n=6). All the rabbits were sacrificed 12 weeks after the operations. Blood levels of estradiol and lipid fractions were measured just before the operations and sacrifice. Clitoral cavernous strips were obtained to observe relaxation responses to endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilators, and electrical field stimulation (ESF). RESULTS: The uterus weight and serum estradiol level decreased significantly (p<0.01) in the oophorectomy group compared with the baseline data. The serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low density lipoprotein increased significantly (p<0.01) in the oophorectomy group. The relaxations of the clitoral strips to acetylcholine were significantly attenuated in the oophorectomy group compared with those of the control and estrogen replacement groups. However, sodium nitroprusside- and nonadrenergic noncholinergic-induced relaxations were not significantly different among the 4 groups. No significant histologic changes were noted in the clitoral tissues of the oophorectomy group. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic estrogen deficiency in the rabbits may cause impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation of clitoral corpus cavernosal smooth muscles. Further studies are needed to determine whether the hypoesterogenemia itself and/or secondary hypercholesterolemia due to the chronic estrogen deficiency may result in the impairment.
Acetylcholine ; Cholesterol ; Estradiol ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy ; Estrogens ; Female ; Flutamide ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Lipoproteins ; Muscle, Smooth* ; New Zealand ; Ovariectomy ; Rabbits ; Relaxation* ; Sodium ; Triglycerides ; Uterus ; Vasodilator Agents

No abstract available.
Dermatitis* ; Metronidazole* ; Tacrolimus*

PURPOSE: The effects of leptin on female sexual behaviors are controversial, and studies on this topic are limited. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the direct effects of leptin on clitoral vasoreactivity in vitro and to determine the mechanism of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Isometric tension studies were conducted to determine the effects of pretreatment with leptin (10(-8) M) on the contractile responses of rabbit clitoral corpus cavernosal smooth muscle strips. The effects of leptin were assessed on precontraction induced by phenylephrine (PE; 10(-9)-10(-4) M) and KCl (35-140 mM). We also examined the effect of leptin on relaxation induced by acetylcholine (ACh; 10(-9)-10(-4) M), verapamil (10(-10)-10(-6) M), and sodium nitroprusside (10(-9)-10(-4) M) in PE-precontracted (10(-5) M) strips. RESULTS: Leptin enhanced ACh-induced relaxation in PE-precontracted strips. L-NAME pretreatment significantly reduced the effect of leptin on ACh-induced relaxation, whereas L-arginine potentiated the effect of leptin. Leptin decreased the KCl-induced contractile responses. Leptin increased verapamil-induced relaxation responses. The relaxation effects of leptin on KCl-induced contraction were inhibited by 10(-5) M methylene blue and L-NAME pretreatment. CONCLUSIONS: A high concentration of leptin enhances ACh-dependent relaxation in clitoral cavernosal smooth muscles. These relaxation effects of leptin may occur through an NO-dependent mechanism and voltage-dependent calcium channel blockade.
Acetylcholine ; Arginine ; Calcium Channels ; Clitoris ; Contracts ; Female ; Humans ; Leptin ; Methylene Blue ; Muscle, Smooth ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitroprusside ; Phenylephrine ; Relaxation ; Sexual Behavior ; Verapamil

Vernet syndrome associated with varicella zoster virus (VZV) has been rarely reported. The diagnosis is established based on typical symptoms such as dysphagia, hoarseness, and unilateral difficulty in neck movement. Lack of skin lesions is common and makes it harder to consider VZV infection. A 53-year-old woman presented with left neck pain, dysphagia, hoarseness, and headache, with an erythematous vesicle on her neck. Laryngoscopy revealed paralysis of her left-soft palate and left-vocal cord. Upon cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination, her white blood cell (WBC) count, protein levels, glucose levels, and VZV antibody titer were elevated; moreover, VZV-DNA was detected. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed no sign of brain tumor, aneurysm or fracture. The patient was diagnosed with Vernet syndrome associated with VZV infection, having presented with a skin lesion involving the cervical segment.
Aneurysm ; Brain Neoplasms ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Chickenpox* ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Glucose ; Headache ; Herpesvirus 3, Human* ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Laryngoscopy ; Leukocytes ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Neck Pain ; Palate ; Paralysis ; Skin*

Experimental renovascular hypertensive model was established by clipping left renal artery and the right side of renal artery was taken 1 week and 1 month after the operation. The renal artery ring preparations were made for contractility studies of vascular wall. The relaxing and contractile responses were recorded and compared with the data obtained from control group. The following results were obtained: 1)One week after the clipping of renal artery, the renovascular hypertensive group showed increased contractility against the various contractile agents (high K+, norepinephrine, caffeine) compared to control group. 2)One month after the clipping of renal artery, the contractile responses to various contractile agents were restored to the level of control group. 3)One week after the clipping of renal artery, the renovascular hypertensive group showed increased responsiveness to acetylcholine treatment, however did not show any remarkable changes to other relaxing agents(sodium nitroprusside, verapamil). 4)One month after the clipping of renal artery, the responses to various relaxing agents showed almost same degree of responsiveness in the renovascular hypertensive group as compared with that of control group. From the above, it is suggested that stenosis- induced renovascular hypertension might induce exaggerated vascular response at early stage in intact renal artery. And the effects may be concerned with endothelium-dependent mechanism.
Acetylcholine ; Hypertension, Renovascular* ; Nitroprusside ; Norepinephrine ; Relaxation* ; Renal Artery*

PURPOSE: The location of acetylcholinesterase-containing nerve fibers suggests a role for acetylcholine in both contractility and secretion in the prostate gland. The colocalization of nitrergic nerves with cholinergic nerves, and the cotransmission of nitric oxide with acetylcholine in cholinergic nerves, has been demonstrated in the prostate glands of various species. Thus, we investigated the effects of acetylcholine on phenylephrine-induced contraction and the correlation between cholinergic transmission and nitric oxide synthase by using isolated prostate strips of rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Isolated prostate strips were contracted with phenylephrine and then treated with cumulative concentrations of acetylcholine. Changes in acetylcholine-induced relaxation after preincubation with NG-nitroarginine methyl ester, 7-nitroindazole, and aminoguanidine were measured. The effects of selective muscarinic receptor antagonists were also evaluated. RESULTS: In the longitudinal phenylephrine-contracted strip, the cumulative application of acetylcholine (10(-9) to 10(-4) M) elicited a concentration-dependent relaxation effect. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation was inhibited not only by nitric oxide synthase inhibitors (10 microM L-NAME or 10 microM 7-nitroindazole) but also by 10 microM atropine and some selective muscarinic receptor antagonists (10(-6) M 11-([2-[(diethylamino)methyl]-1-piperdinyl]acetyl)-5,11-dihydro-6H-pyrido[2,3-b][1,4]benzodiazepine-6-one and 10(-6) M 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methyl-piperidine). In contrast, relaxation was significantly increased by pretreatment of the strips with 10 mM L-arginine. CONCLUSIONS: Acetylcholine relaxed phenylephrine-induced contractions of isolated rabbit prostate strips. This relaxation may be mediated via both cholinergic and constitutive nitric oxide synthase with both the M2 and M3 receptors possibly playing key roles.
Acetylcholine ; Atropine ; Contracts ; Guanidines ; Indazoles ; Nerve Fibers ; Neurons ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitrergic Neurons ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; Phenylephrine ; Prostate ; Receptor, Muscarinic M2 ; Receptor, Muscarinic M3 ; Receptors, Muscarinic ; Relaxation

No abstract available.
Steatocystoma Multiplex

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the effects of polyamines on rabbit seminal vesicular contractility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The polyamines; putrescine, spermidine and spermine, were added to deepithelized and precontracted seminal vesicle strips, with either 10 4M norepinephrine (NE), 10 4M acetylcholine (ACh) or 70mM KCl, in organ chambers to obtain cumulative concentration response curves. A whole cell mode patch clamp study was also performed to observe the effects of the polyamines on the L-type calcium channel activities. RESULTS: The polyamines elicited concentration-dependent relaxations of the precontracted strips with the NE, ACh and KCl. The spermine showed the most potent relaxation response. Both extracellular and intracellular application of the spermine decreased the L-type calcium channel currents. CONCLUSIONS: Spermine more potently inhibited the seminal vesicle contraction than putrescine or spermidine, which suggests the polyamines may play a role in maintaining the basal tonicity of seminal vesicle in a flaccid state. The spermine-induced relaxation response seems to be related with an inhibition of the L-type calcium channel activities.
Acetylcholine ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; Norepinephrine ; Polyamines* ; Putrescine ; Relaxation* ; Seminal Vesicles* ; Spermidine ; Spermine