Our purpose is to describe a successful twin pregnancy and delivery after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) followed by calcium ionophore with spermatozoa from a globozoospermic man. On the second attempt of ICSI, all of eight metaphase II oocytes were fertilized with treatment with calcium ionophore. Day 3 transfer of six normally developing embryos resulted in an ongoing twin pregnancy, and two preterm healthy babies were born in the 33th week of gestation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of pregnancy and delivery after ICSI followed by calcium ionophore with spermatozoa from a globozoospermic man in Korea.
Calcium* ; Embryonic Structures ; Humans ; Metaphase ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin* ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic* ; Spermatozoa*

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The present study was carried out to investigate transient arteriolar vasospasm following reperfusion in the gerbil as an ischemic model and relationship between vasospasm and the changes of morphologic, physiologic and regional blood flow. METHODS: The transient arteriolar vasospasm was observed under the microscope. All gerbils were perfusion fixed and ischemic neuronal damage was checked in the CA1 subfield of the dorsal hippocampus. Metabolic parameters were serially measured during the occlusion and after recirculation, and cerebral blood flow was measured with a laser Doppler flowmetry. RESULTS: 1. Among the 18 gerbils with BCAO(bilateral carotid artery occlusion) for 2 minutes, 8 gerbils showed vasospasm after reopening, namely post-ischemic vasospasm, and 10 gerbils did not show vasospasm. 2. In all animals, metabolic parameters showed decreased PaCO2 and high pH just after the occlusion but increased PaCO2 and lowered pH following the recirculation. BCAO caused marked increase in systemic blood pressure but it returned to preischemic levels following the recirculation. 3. In all animals, BCAO caused marked decrease of cerebral blood flow compared to preischemic levels immediately following the occlusion but it returned to preischemic levels following the recirculation. And it took some longer the onset and duration of the transient increase in blood volume after reopening in the animals with vasospasm than those without vasospasm. 4. There was no morphological neuronal damage in the hippocampal CA1 subfield, at 1, 3, 7 days following 2-minute ischemic insult. CONCLUSION: The present study confirmed that BCAO in gerbils resulted in forebrain ischemia caused transient cortical vasospasm in the gerbil. But there was no close relationship between vasospasm and the changes of morphologic, physiologic and regional blood flow.
Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Volume ; Brain Ischemia* ; Brain* ; Carotid Arteries* ; Cerebral Cortex* ; Gerbillinae* ; Hippocampus ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ischemia ; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry ; Microcirculation* ; Neurons ; Perfusion ; Prosencephalon ; Regional Blood Flow ; Reperfusion

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of vertebroplasty on costal pain which develops following osteoporotic thoracic compression fractures (OTCFs). METHODS: The authors reviewed the medical records of 35 patients who underwent vertebral augmentation for the treatment of OTCFs over a five year period. The patients were divided into two groups: the costalgia group included patientswho had costal pain after a vertebral fracture and the non-costalgia group included patients without costalgia. To evaluate the effect of vertebroplasty on costal pain and factors related to costal pain, several factors including: vertebral body fracture type, pedicle injury, bone mineral density, the fracture level and clinical outcome were confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging and chart reviews. RESULTS: Among 35 patients, ten patients (28.6%) complained of costal pain with back pain. Only five of the ten patients (50%) had improved costal pain after a vertebroplasty. In the remaining 5 patients, the costal pain was improved through the use of medication including pain killers or a costal block during the follow-up period. Although the incidence of wedge deformity in the costal group was low(10%), there was no significant relationship to the incidence of costal pain statistically. Pedicle injury, bone mineral density and the fracture level had no significant relation to costal pain. CONCLUSION: The patients with wedge type, OTCFs may have a low incidence of costal pain as compared to those patients with bi-concave and crush deformities. The vertebroplasty effect on costal pain may not be effective. Therefore, before doing vertebroplasty, the surgeon should advise patients of this potential outcome in those treated for OTCFs.
Aged ; Back Pain ; Bone Density ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intercostal Nerves ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medical Records ; Osteoporosis ; Spinal Fractures ; Vertebroplasty

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of vertebroplasty on costal pain which develops following osteoporotic thoracic compression fractures (OTCFs). METHODS: The authors reviewed the medical records of 35 patients who underwent vertebral augmentation for the treatment of OTCFs over a five year period. The patients were divided into two groups: the costalgia group included patientswho had costal pain after a vertebral fracture and the non-costalgia group included patients without costalgia. To evaluate the effect of vertebroplasty on costal pain and factors related to costal pain, several factors including: vertebral body fracture type, pedicle injury, bone mineral density, the fracture level and clinical outcome were confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging and chart reviews. RESULTS: Among 35 patients, ten patients (28.6%) complained of costal pain with back pain. Only five of the ten patients (50%) had improved costal pain after a vertebroplasty. In the remaining 5 patients, the costal pain was improved through the use of medication including pain killers or a costal block during the follow-up period. Although the incidence of wedge deformity in the costal group was low(10%), there was no significant relationship to the incidence of costal pain statistically. Pedicle injury, bone mineral density and the fracture level had no significant relation to costal pain. CONCLUSION: The patients with wedge type, OTCFs may have a low incidence of costal pain as compared to those patients with bi-concave and crush deformities. The vertebroplasty effect on costal pain may not be effective. Therefore, before doing vertebroplasty, the surgeon should advise patients of this potential outcome in those treated for OTCFs.
Aged ; Back Pain ; Bone Density ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intercostal Nerves ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medical Records ; Osteoporosis ; Spinal Fractures ; Vertebroplasty

Kojic acid was investigated for its antifungal activity against the human pathogenic fungi including Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Trichophyton rubrum. For C. albicans, C. neoformans and T. rubrum, the MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) of kojic acid was 640, 80 and 160 microg/ml, respectively. In C. neoformans, melanin-producing yeast, kojic acid-treated nonmelanized cell was more susceptible to magainin than melanized cell, suggesting melanin give a protective function against microbial peptide.
Candida albicans ; Cryptococcus neoformans* ; Cryptococcus* ; Fungi* ; Humans* ; Melanins ; Trichophyton ; Yeasts

Antifungal activities of volatile vapours of essential oils were investigated. Volatile vapours of test essential oils except Cedar-wood and Pachouri showed inhibitory activity against test fungi. Volatile vapours of Birch essential oils exhibited fungistatic activity against dermatophytic filamentous fungi while others did fungicidal activity. Spores of dermatophytic filamentous fungi are more susceptible to volatile vapours of essential oils than mycelia.
Betula ; Fungi ; Oils, Volatile* ; Spores

Background: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension occurs due to cerebrospinal fluid leakage from the spinal column, and orthostatic headache is the most common clinical presentation. Recent studies showed that bilateral greater occipital nerve blockade demonstrated clinical efficacy in relieving post-dural puncture headache after caesarean section. CaseA 40-year-old male who presented severe orthostatic headache was consulted to our pain clinic from neurology department. He initially felt a dull nature pain over the whole occipital area which then spread over the frontal and parietal areas. His headache was combined with nausea and vomiting. An epidural blood patch was delayed until final cisternography, and bilateral greater occipital nerve blockade using ultrasound guidance was performed instead. After the blockade, the previously existing headache around the occipital and parietal areas disappeared completely, but mild headache persisted around the frontal area. Conclusions Greater occipital nerve blockade could be a good therapeutic alternative to improve headache resulting from spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

The studies about factors influencing the retroprostheic membrane formation, one of major complications after keratoprosthesis implantation, and about histological characteristics of the retroprosthetic membrane were performed. The methods to inhibit formation and proliferation of membrane were also tried. Formation of the membrane according to corneal trephination size and the effects of lens removal to membrane formation were studied. The influence by the design of keratoprosthesis was also studied. Corticosteroid and SIMP (synthetic inhibitor of metalloproteinase) were applied topically to see the inhibitory effects of drugs to membrane. To evaluate the postoperative intraocular inflammation. Interleukin-1beta was assessed in the aqueous humor at postoperative 3 weeks. Regardless of trephination size, all trephination sites were replaced with opaque fibrous membranes. Histologically, in small trephination group (under 6mm) the membrane was regeneration of cornea showing corneal stromal fibroblast migration and proliferation and mature collagen. In large trephination group (over 7mm), the periphery of the membrane was compatible with corneal regeneration, but central portion was filled with granulation tissue. The removal of lens didn`t influenced the formation of membrane formation. In disc type keratoprosthesis implantation group, all the implants were extruded within 1 month due to retroprosthetic membrane formation. In cylinder type keratoprosthesis implantation group, the physical barrier of cylinder stopped the retroprosthetic membrane proliferation and spared the posterior surface of optic portion. The implants were not extruded for average 10 weeks. Corticosteroid and SIMP showed the effects of decreasing mature collagen formation in the membrane. The level of Interleukin-1beta at postoperative 3 weeks showed no difference according to different drugs and the highest level was checked in cylinder type keratoprosthesis implantation group.
Aqueous Humor ; Collagen ; Cornea ; Fibroblasts ; Granulation Tissue ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1beta ; Membranes* ; Regeneration ; Trephining

Whether indwelling urethral catheter should be removed after urethroplasty or visual internal urethrotomy in patients with posterior urethral injured is still controversial. From May 1990 to February 1995, 28 patients with posterior urethral injury underwent retrograde pericatheter urethrography for the purpose of the evaluation of urethral continuity in the timing of the removal of indwelling urethral catheter. The indwelling catheter was removed in 24 patients whose urethra did not have any extravasation, and 4 patients had detectable extravasation. We conclude that retrograde pericatheter urethrogram is the most useful radiologically diagnostic method to evaluate in the timing of the removal of indwelling urethral catheter and to obtain the objective parameter of urethral patency in posterior urethral injured patients, postoperatively.
Catheters* ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Humans ; Urethra ; Urinary Catheters

No abstract available.
Infarction*