No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Extracorporeal Circulation* ; Heart* ; Potassium* ; Thoracic Surgery*

The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of beta-glucan originating from Aureobasidium on full-thickness skin wound healing in diabetic C57BL/KsJ-db/ db mouse models. In the diabetic C57BL/KsJ-db/db model, test articles were topically applied twice a day for 20 days starting from 1 day after wounding. The results were compared to that of MadecassolTM ointment (madecassol; 1% Centella asiatica extracts) topically applied at a concentration of 100 mg/kg. Treatment with beta-glucan resulted in significant (p<0.01 or p<0.05) and dose-dependent decreases in wound size compared with that of vehicle control showing increased wound size (WS, %). In addition, 50% contraction time (CT50) was dramatically and dose-dependently reduced, and inflammatory cells in granulation tissues of the wound area were significantly (p<0.01 or p<0.05) and dosedependently reduced compared with that of vehicle control showing increased numbers of micro-vessels and fibroblasts as well as re-epithelialization. In the madecassol group, similar changes in inflammatory cells and fibroblasts with re-epithelialization were also observed, but madecassol did not influence angiogenesis. No meaningful changes in body weight were detected in all tested groups compared with the vehicle control. Therefore, these data suggest that beta-glucan has a beneficial effect on diabetic delayed skin wound healing and may be useful to manage incurable skin wounds in diabetic animals.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Centella ; Fibroblasts ; Granulation Tissue ; Mice* ; Re-Epithelialization ; Skin ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

No abstract available.

Proper management of childhood and adolescent varicocele remains still controversial. In general, all methods for varicocele ablation for adults are available and include open surgical ligation, laparoscopic ligation, or percutaneous ablation. We evaluated the usefulness of percutaneous embolization of internal spermatic vein in boys with varicocele. Between February 1988 to May 1996, 48 boys of 53 varicoceles underwent percut aneous embolization. In 49 cases, the embolization were technically possible and in the other 4 cases, we could not access the internal spermatic vein because of vasospasm and venous abnormality. The results were successful in 40 cases (81.6%) and failed in 9 cases (18.4%), including 4 (8.2%) of persistent and 5 (10.2%) of recurred cases. There were no major complications except 3 cases of extravasation of contrast material. Percutaneous embolization may be recommended as a primary treatment for childhood and adolescent varicocele.
Adolescent* ; Adult ; Humans ; Ligation ; Varicocele* ; Veins*

PURPOSE: A histological study was undertaken to characterized the vanished testes in boys who had impalpable cryptorchidism and found to have nubbin remnant during last 9-years period. METHODS: Of 108 impalpable cryptorchid boys, 42(44 nubbins, 38.9%) were found to have vanished testes at exploration. RESULTS: Thirty nine(88.6%) were located on the left side and the other 5(11.4%) were on the right side. The age range was 6 months to 14 years(mean;52.2 months). All 44 nubbin remnants were excised and examined microscopically. Grossly it was characterized by several centimeters of spermatic cord with small fibrotic tissue at distal end. Microscopically fibrous tissues were identified in all 44 specimens(100%), vasa deferens in 36(81. 8%), epididymis in 19(43.2%), calcifications in 18(40.9%), hemosiderin deposits in 6(13. 6%), germ cells in 5(11.4%), seminiferous tubules in 7(15.9%), tunicae albuginea in 7(15.9%) and hyalinizations in 3(6.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The finding of scattered foci of calcifications, hemosiderin deposits and the presence of relatively normal spermatic cord and epididymis, supports the concept of in utero torsion of the testis as the etiology of vanished testis. The 11.4% incidence of viable germ cells warrants exploration and removal of remnant tissue in boys with a impalpable cryptorchidism.
Cryptorchidism ; Epididymis ; Germ Cells ; Hemosiderin ; Hyalin ; Incidence ; Male ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Spermatic Cord ; Testis*

From February 1996 to May 1997, 18 patients underwent mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation. There were 9 male and 9 female patients aged from 19 to 68 years (mean, 53). Thirteen patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III and IV. The cause of mitral regurgitation was degenerative in 12 patients, rheumatic in 5 patients and infective in 1 patient. Fifteen patients were in Carpentier's functional classification II, 2 patients in Carpentier's class III and 1 patient in Carpentier's class I. Surgical procedures included prosthetic ring annuloplasty (16 cases), rectangular resection of posterior leaflet (15 cases), chordal shortening (5 cases), triangular resection of anterior leaflet (2 cases), commissurotomy (2 cases), partial transposition of posterior leaflet (1 case). These procedures were combined in most patients. There was no operative death. These patients have been followed from 1 to 15 months, mean of 6.7 months. There was one late death resulted from low cardiac output following mitral valve replacement. The function of the repaired valve in other 17 patients has remained satisfactory during the observed interval. We consider that mitral valve repair is highly satisfactory in patients with mitral regurgitation.
Cardiac Output, Low ; Classification ; Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency* ; Mitral Valve*

No abstract available.
Fistula*