OBJECTIVE: Many cases of fertilization failure after ICSI is attributed to decondensation defect of sperm head, therefore, selection of sperm with well-condensed, fully-matured nucleus is critical for successful fertilization. During mammalian spermiogenesis, replacement of the somatic histones by protamines allows normal sperm nuclear condensation. The degree of condensation can be shown with the aid of acidic aniline blue staining, which is able to discriminate between lysine-rich histones and arginine- or cysteine-rich protamines. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible relation between nuclear maturity of human sperm and hypo-osmotic swelling patterns. Hypo-osmotic swelling test is very simple and convenient test to measure functional integrity of human sperm membrane, and each already tested sperms can be used for fertilization. METHODS: For assessment of sperm nuclear maturity, aniline blue staining was performed on the slides, already undergone hypo-osmotic swelling test in 5 subfertile patients with abnormal semen parameters and 8 fertile donors. After 3 hours swim-up, these procedures were repeated in each cases. RESULTS: Sperms with negative aniline blue were significantly increased after swim-up in each group. There was a significant increase in the proportion of negative aniline blue in sperms with swelling patterns(e+f+g) compared to sperms with non-swelling patterns(a), except swim-up group in subfertile patients. CONCLUSION: Choosing the swelling patterns, rather than non-swelling sperms after hypo-osmotic test may be beneficial for the selection of sperms with well-condensed, mature nucleus and intact membrane.
Fertilization ; Histones ; Humans ; Membranes ; Protamines ; Semen ; Sperm Head ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatozoa* ; Tissue Donors

Clinical observation was made on 131 cases of the unstable spine injury treated at the Orthopedic Surgery Department of Busan National University Hospital during the period from January 1974 to December 1981. The results obtained were as follows: 1. More than two-thirds of patients were between the age of 20 and 40, and the proportion of males to females showed a ratio of 5.9 to 1. The most common cause of injury was falling at an industrial area, rating 64.1% of all cases. 2. Fracture level was observed 31.3% in the first lumbar level, 24.4% in the twelfth thoracic vertebra, and 67.9% between the twelfth thoracic vertebra and the second lumbar vertebra. 3. Mechanisms of injury were 44.3% by pure flexion, 26.7% by flexion and rotation, 15.3% by direct shearing force, and 13.7% by vertical compression. 4. The fracture with lower extremity paralysis was due to the rotational fracture dislocation, which comprised 66% of all. 5. Kyphosis increased to the average of 10.6 degree in the case of decompressive laminectomy and of 3.4 degree in the case of spinal fusion. 6. The anatomical alignment and a definite stability could be obtained by the use of Harringtons rod in the cases of the unstable thoracolumbar fracture and fracture-dislocation. In 3 cases of all, we could get satisfactory results 1 month after the day injury occured. 7. In case of complete paralysis of lower extremity, it was found only 9.4% showed partial recovery, neurologically, and 61.9% of the patients with incomplete paralysis were also partly recovered. 8. The most common complication was urinary tract infection, which comprised 83% of the cases. With the use of intermittent urinary catheterization, the voiding reflex recovered within 4 months in most cases.
Accidental Falls ; Busan ; Dislocations ; Female ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Laminectomy ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Orthopedics ; Paralysis ; Reflex ; Spinal Fusion ; Spine ; Urinary Catheterization ; Urinary Catheters ; Urinary Tract Infections

Hyperplasia*

BACKGROUND: We assessed the effectiveness of arthroscopic capsular release for the treatment of adhesive capsulitis. Further, we tried to ascertain the clinical benefits, if any, of pancapsular release over selective capsular release, where the two differ by performing or not performing a posterior capsular release, respectively. METHODS: Thirty-five consecutive patients with either primary or secondary adhesive capsulitis who failed conservative treatment for more than 6 months were enrolled in the study. A total of 16 patients allocated in group 1 received a pancapsular release that comprises the release of the rotator interval, anteroinferior capsular, and the posterior capsular release, whereas 19 patients in group 2 received a selective capsular release that comprises only the release of the rotator interval release and anteroinferior capsular release. The clinical outcomes, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Constant score, and range of motion, were assessed preoperative and postoperatively. RESULTS: In both groups, the preoperative VAS score, Constant score, and ROM showed a significant improvement by the 6-month follow-up. We found that the immediate postoperative internal rotation was significantly higher in group 1 than group 2. Despite significant differences seen between the two groups at the initial postoperative period, there were no significant differences in Constant score, VAS score, and the ROM at all the subsequent follow-ups between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic capsular release for the treatment of adhesive capsulitis is very effective. However, pancapsular release did not show any advantage over selective capsular release in terms of overall clinical outcome.
Bursitis* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joint Capsule Release* ; Postoperative Period ; Range of Motion, Articular

OBJECTIVE: In a pregnant rabbit model using hysteroscopy-guided inoculation of E. coli, we investigated pregnancy outcome according to elapsing time with immediate antibiotic treatment after E. coli inoculation, and in turn determined which of the maintenance of pregnancy with antibiotic and tocolytic administration or prompt delivery in the management of preterm labor complicated with intrauterine infection offered the improvement of pregnancy outcome. METHODS: Timed-pregnant rabbits underwent hysteroscopy at 20-21 days of gestation(70%). Animals were inoculated with either E. coli(0.2 ml containing 10' cfu/ml) or saline, and administered ampicillin-sulbactam(100 mg/kg/day; Unasyn; Pfizer) in divided doses every 8 hours beginning 30 minutes after microbial inoculation until euthanasia with one of the following; 3 days(n 10), 5 days(n 8), or 7 days(n-8) after hysteroscopy. In the first study, which performed in animals with inoculation of E. coli, pregnancy outcome including fetal survival rate and results of microbial studies and placental pathology were compared among three groups. In second study, which performed in animals with inoculation with saline, pregnancy outcome were compared among three groups for the purpose of elucidating effects of antibiotic administration during inoculation-to-euthanasia interval on pregnancy outcome. RESULTS: Of rabbits inoculated with E. coli and receiving antibiotics immediately, the rate of fetal survival and positive intrauterine cultures in total and live fetuses decreased significantly, and the rate of placental inflammation in total and live fetuses increased significantly with time from intracervical inoculation with E. coli to euthanasia(p<0.05, respectively). Of rabbits inoculated with saline and receiving antibiotics immediately, the rates of fetal survival, positive intrauterine cultures in total and live fetuses, and placental inflammation in total and live fetuses have no difference with time from intracervical inoculation with saline to euthanasia. CONCLUSION: Fetal complications including fetal death could be induced in utero if persistent subclinical intrauterine infection was present in spite of earlier antibiotics administration initiated after inoculation of E, coli. Therefore, when treating with antibiotics in intrauterine infection, it is needed to observe and monitor the presence of persistent intrauterine infection, and if it is persistent, prompt delivery may be better than maintenance of pregnancy with antibiotic and tocolytic administration for the improvement of pregnancy outcome.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Euthanasia ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Fetus ; Hysteroscopy ; Inflammation ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pathology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Rabbits ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of nitric oxide on the apoptosis of human luteinized granulosa cells. METHODS : Granulosa cell suspensions were incubated for 48 hours after adding nitric oxide donor (S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine, SNAP) and nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, L-NAME) at different concentrations. Apoptosis was examined using a terminal deoxynucleotide transferase- mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling method, and immunocytochemical staining was performed for six apoptosis-related proteins. RESULTS: Apoptotic rates were significantly lower in cells incubated in SNAP 0.5 mM, but higher in L-NAME 0.5, 1.0, and 5.0 mM. SNAP 0.5 mM lowered the expressions of Fas and p53 in granulosa cells, but Bcl-2 expression was increased, and Fas ligand or Bax remained unchanged. In L-NAME 0.5 and 5.0 mM, the expressions of p53 and Bax were increased, and Bcl-2 was unchanged. Fas/Fas ligands were also activated especially in L-NAME 5.0 mM. CONCLUSION: Nitric oxide may inhibit apoptosis via decreased Fas and p53, and increased Bcl-2 expression in human luteinized granulosa cells.
Apoptosis* ; Fas Ligand Protein ; Female ; Granulosa Cells* ; Humans* ; Ligands ; Lutein* ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide* ; Suspensions ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of alopecia areata is still unknown, however autoimmune mechanism is strongly suggested. The topical immunotherapy using potent sensitizer has been used as new therapeutic modality. By this method in one half and to one third of the patients, hair growth is observed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immunological profile between responders and non-responders to dphencyprone (DPCP) topical immunotherapy in alopecia areata patients. METHODS: Aker sensitization, DPCP was applied to the patients' scalp weekly for three months. Before and after treatment the therapeutic effect was evaluated by clinical observation by following items: complete baldness, baldness+vellus, baldness+terminal hair and normal hair. Peripheral T cell and T cell subsets, B cell and delayed hypersensitivity with various antigens were evaluated before and after treatment. RESULTS: The immunologic difference between responders and non-responders was not statistically different. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that no major immunologic difference was observed between responders and non-responders before and after DPCP topical immunotherapy. Local mechanism seems to be related in the response to immunotherapy.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Hair ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; Immunotherapy ; Methods ; Scalp ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of alopecia areata is still unknown, however autoimmune mechanism is strongly suggested. The topical immunotherapy using potent sensitizer has been used as new therapeutic modality. By this method in one half and to one third of the patients, hair growth is observed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immunological profile between responders and non-responders to dphencyprone (DPCP) topical immunotherapy in alopecia areata patients. METHODS: Aker sensitization, DPCP was applied to the patients' scalp weekly for three months. Before and after treatment the therapeutic effect was evaluated by clinical observation by following items: complete baldness, baldness+vellus, baldness+terminal hair and normal hair. Peripheral T cell and T cell subsets, B cell and delayed hypersensitivity with various antigens were evaluated before and after treatment. RESULTS: The immunologic difference between responders and non-responders was not statistically different. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that no major immunologic difference was observed between responders and non-responders before and after DPCP topical immunotherapy. Local mechanism seems to be related in the response to immunotherapy.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Hair ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; Immunotherapy ; Methods ; Scalp ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Sinusitis*