No abstract available.

The methods of reconstruction for chronic Iigamentous instability of the knee have changed much since the concept of rotary instability was introduced by Slocum and Larson in 1968. The first step to successful management of these probrams is the accurate dlagnosis of the type or types of the instability that exist. Appropriate operative procedures should then be selected according to the type and degree of the instability as well as the age, general conditlon and the function demand of the patient. The stability can be restored passively by a near anatomical. repair of the injured ligaments, and can be reinforced actively by a proper muscle or tendon transplantation, such as the five-one procedure for anteromedial rotary instability. Nineteen knees of active, well motivated patients were operated on for chronic knee instabilities according to these new concepts. Although the follow-up period was relatively short, the results of the procedures was generally satisfactory.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Ligaments ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Tendons

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the effects of oral sildenafil on erectile function according to the number of accompanying cardiovascular risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Q3 (the ability to achieve an erection) and Q4 (the ability to maintain an erection) scores of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) were obtained, before and after the administration of oral sildenafil at least 4 times, in a total of 195 patients (mean age: 57.9 8.9 years) with erectile dysfunction. Of these, 125 had 1 (n=76), 2 (n=33) or 3 (n=16) cardiovascular risk factors. The effects of oral sildenafil for each group were compared by mean paired differences of the Q3 and Q4 scores after treatment. RESULTS: The mean Q3 and Q4 scores increased significantly in all patients, regardless of the presence and number of risk factors (p<0.001). The greater the number of risk factors, the lower the Q3 and Q4 scores, while the mean paired differences in the scores before and after treatment were not significantly different between patients without and with cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Oral sildenafil improves the erectile function in patients with cardiovascular risk factors, and combined erectile dysfunction and the degree of improvement seem to be similar, regardless of the number of cardiovascular risk factors.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Male ; Risk Factors* ; Sildenafil Citrate

No abstract available.
Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

PURPOSE: This study was aimed at investigating the role of betaadrenoceptor subtypes in mediating the relaxation and contraction of seminal vesicles in rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relaxation or contractile responses of epithelium- removed muscle strips of a rabbit seminal vesicle, which were precontracted with 10-5M norepinephrine, to selective betasubtypes-adrenoceptor agonists were observed in an organ bath. The contractile responses induced by isoproterenol were also observed after application of selective antagonists. RESULTS: Isoproterenol showed a concentration-dependent contractile response, but the contractility was weaker than those with phenylephrine and norepinephrine. The betaselective-agonists(xamoterol for beta, clenbuterol for beta and BRL37344 for beta) alone evoked neither contraction nor relaxation. However, the beta- and beta-agonists inhibited the contraction of the precontracted strips with 10-5M norepinephrine, while the beta-agonist enhanced the contraction. The pretreatment with a beta-antagonist(ICI118551) reduced the tension of the strips developed by 10-4M isoproterenol, but the beta-(atenolol) and beta-(SR59230A) antagonists showed no changes in the response. CONCLUSIONS: beta- and beta-adrenoceptors seem to mediate the relaxation of the seminal vesicle, while the beta-adrenoceptor may have a supplementary role in contraction.
Baths ; Clenbuterol ; Isoproterenol ; Negotiating ; Norepinephrine ; Phenylephrine ; Rabbits ; Relaxation* ; Seminal Vesicles*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare testicular volumes measured by Prader orchidometer and scrotal ultrasound. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The volumes of 467 adult male testes were measured by Prader orchidometer and scrotal ultrasound. The testicular volumes on ultrasound were calculated by the formula: length x width x height x 0.71. The testicular volumes of the Prader orchidometer were divided into two groups: 15 ml or less, and over 15 ml. The two measurements were compared for each group. RESULTS: In the group with testicular volumes of 15 ml or less, the testicular volumes measured by orchidometer(13.29+/-1.94 ml) were significantly smaller than those measured by ultrasound(14.83+/-2.76 ml). In contrast, the group with over 15 ml did not show any significant difference in the volumes measured by orchidometer(21.21+/-2.58 ml) versusultrasound(20.77+/-4.26 ml). Mean paired differences of the testicular volumes between the orchidometer and ultrasound were 1.54+/-2.65 ml for the group with 15 ml or less and -0.44+/-3.38 ml for the group over15 ml these values are significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of testicular volume of 15 ml or less measured by Prader orchidometer, scrotal ultrasound is necessary for an accurate measurement of the volume.
Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Testis ; Ultrasonography*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to survey the health behaviors related to reproductive health, reproductive health history, and sexual behaviors of college students in local areas. METHOD: With a survey design, 792 college students from C and D areas were recruited to assess health behaviors such as smoking and alcohol drinking, as well as history of reproductive health and sexual behaviors. The data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire from November to December, 2007. RESULT: Mean age of the students was 20.8(SD=1.96) and gender distribution was 29.2% for male and 70.8% for female. Unhealthy behaviors were alcohol drinking, smoking, excessive weight loss, and irregular exercise; unsafe sex practices were experience of sexual intercourse with multiple sex partners and history of sexually transmitted disease (STD). Male students had more alcohol drinking (p=.04), smoking(p<.001), excessive weight loss(p=.01), experience of sexual intercourse with multiple sex partners(p<.001), history of STD(p=.025) compared to females. On the other hands, female students participated in regular exercise less than males(p<.001). CONCLUSION: College students seem to perform unhealthy behaviors related to reproductive health and less effective way of safe sex practices. Therefore, a planned education program for reproductive health promotion operated by college level is needed to assess and improve the level of reproductive health in college students.
Alcohol Drinking ; Coitus ; Female ; Hand ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reproductive Health ; Safe Sex ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Unsafe Sex ; Weight Loss

BACKGROUND: Propofol is a widely-used intravenous anesthetic with a rapid onset, short duration of action and rapid elimination but the molecular mechanisms of action are not completely understood. Not only neurons but astrocytes are potential substrates for anesthetics, specifically for propofol. Intracellular calcium ion ([Ca2 ]i) is known to play a key role in the transduction and propagation of various chemical signals in astrocytes. METHODS: In the present study, the effects of propofol on the intracellular calcium concentration of astrocytoma cells by using a fura-2 fluorescence spectroscopy was investigated. RESULTS: In an isotonic standard solution, propofol (50 and 500microM) produced a transient increase in [Ca2 ]i while the intralipid did not change [Ca2 ]i. In several cells (20%), a transient increase in [Ca2 ]i was followed by sustained elevation which was sensitive to depletion of external calcium. A propofol-induced increase in [Ca2 ]i was not altered by an L-type calcium channel blocker (nifedipine 2microM). In cells bathed in a Ca2 -free external solution, a transient increase in [Ca2 ]i was observed. After the pretreatment of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), an endoplasmic reticulum Ca2 -ATPase blocker, propofol 500microM did not produce any significant increase in [Ca2 ]i. Carbachol, which is known to release calcium from the inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3)-induced calcium release (IICR) stores, prevented the [Ca2 ]i increase by propofol and vice versa. High concentrations of caffeine (10 mM), which release calcium from the calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) stores, had no effect on [Ca2 ]i. CONCLUSIONS: From the above results, it is suggested that an increase in [Ca2 ]i by propofol in astrocytoma cells is mainly due to calcium release from the IICR stores.
Anesthetics ; Astrocytes ; Astrocytoma* ; Baths ; Caffeine ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; Calcium* ; Carbachol ; Cytosol* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Fura-2 ; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate ; Neurons ; Propofol* ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Molar, Third ; Mouth

BACKGROUND: Telomerase enzyme activity is not detected in most normal cells, a phonomenon believed to be associated with limitations on cellular proliferation. Since this activity is detected in nearly all human tumor, including lung cancers, it has been suggested that telomerase activation may be coupled to acquisition of malignant phenotype. In this study, we determined whether telomerase activity was associated with tumor pathologic stage. METHODS: Primary tumor specimens obtained by bronchoscopic biopsies from 33 patients were analyzed. Telomerase activity was measured by means of a modified Telomeric Repeat Amplication Protocol(TRAP) assay. RESULTS: Telomerase activity was detected in 23 of the 27 non small cell lung cancer and 5 of 6 small cell lung cancer. A few primary tumors did not appear to have detectable telomerase activity. Positive associations were found between the telomerase-positive rate and tumor stage(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: High telomerase activity is detected frequently in primary lung cancers that exhibit high tumor cell proliferation rates and advanced pathologic stage.
Biopsy ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Phenotype ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; Telomerase* ; Telomere