No abstract available.
Animals ; Flowmeters* ; Magnets* ; Male ; Models, Animal* ; Penile Erection* ; Rats*

Seminal biochemical compositions are to be affected during inflammatory conditions of seminal tract such as chronic prostatitis. Especially chronic prostatitis induces changes in composition of prostatic fluid, and the chronic nature of disease also induces atrophy of prostatic secretory acini and the inflammation of seminal vesicle. We investigated the change of the seminal composition and the possible effect in sperm motility of chronic prostatitis patients. Sperm motility and seminal levels of zinc, citric acid, prostatic acid phosphatase(PAP) and fructose were measured on 12 healthy males and 21 chronic prostatitis patients. Sperm motility in chronic prostatitis patients was decreased and seminal levels of zinc, citric acid, PAP and fructose in control and chronic prostatitis patients were 143+/-10/102+/-7(ug/L), 389+/-17/293+/-25(mg/dl), 446+/-61/ 382+/-28(U/ml), 306+/-7/297+/-6(mg/dl), respectively. The change of zinc was statistically significant. In conclusion, although decrease of seminal zinc in patients with chronic prostatitis was found, there was no convincing evidence to suggest that alterations in seminal composition due to chronic prostatitis lead to decrease of sperm motility.
Atrophy ; Citric Acid ; Fructose ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Prostatitis* ; Semen ; Seminal Vesicles ; Sperm Motility ; Zinc

Inflammatory white blood cells in semen is related to semen quality affecting fertility. The role of inflammatory cells on the seminal levels of various cytokines associated with inflammation and sperm motility is evaluated. Semens from 10 healthy males and 20 chronic prostatitis patients were evaluated for the levels of interleukin(IL)-1a, IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-a. Motility parameters were recorded using Hamilton-Thorne computer semen analysis system. Sperm motility parameters such as including average path velocity(VAP), straight line velocity(VSL), curvilinear velocity(VCL), lateral head displacement(ALH), beat frequency(BCF), straightness(STR), linearity(LIN), elongation and area in control and chronic prostatitis patients were 44.9+/-2.5/38.8+/-1.3(um/sec), 36.4+/-2.4/30.5+/-1.1(um/sec), 64.2+/-3.9/ 58.0+/-2.4(Fm/sec), 3.3+/-0.2/4.8+/-0.3tm), 19.8+/-3.7/13.9+/-0.3(Hz), 77.7+/-5.1/78.8+/-1.2(%), 50.6+/-17.5/53.5+/-1.9(%), 66.8+/-5.4/57.8+/-1.1(9%), 2.9+/-0.3/3.8+/-0.1(um/sec), respectively. Statistical significance was noted in VAP, VSL, ALH, BCF, elongation and area. Semen levels of IL-1a, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-a in control and chronic prostatitis patients are 15.1+/-1.5/52.9+/-14.2 (pg/ml), 10.5+/-2.2/38.3+/-12.2 (pg/ml), 1.60+/-0.38/ 6.02+/-0.26 (ug/L), 11.8+/-2.5 / 21.7+/-4.0(pg/ml) statistically significant in all. For combined parameters, the correlation coefficient of IL-1a and VSL, ALH, Area were 0.40, 0.41, 0.37 respectively which were significant. The correlation coefficient of IL-8 and VAP, VSL, VCL, ALH, BCF, Elongation, Area were 0.48, 0.49, 0.39, 0.41, 0.55, 0.59, 0.66 respectively which were also significant. Seminal inflammatory cytokines are present in increased quantities if inflammatory white blood cells are present in semen and this increase might be related to sperm motility.
Cytokines* ; Fertility ; Head ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Necrosis ; Prostatitis ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Motility* ; Spermatozoa*

Transrectal Ultrasonography (TRUS) easily provides an accurate assessment of the seminal tract. In Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) of the seminal tract, the anatomic relationships are more clearly seen and the multiplanar imaging is available, so a more definitive diagnosis can be achieved. Although TRUS and MRI have been studied extensively, the findings of TRUS have not been compared with those of MRI. We studied 29 patients who were assessed with TRUS and MRI simultaneously due to disease of the seminal tract. The findings of cystic disease were coincident between TRUS and MRI. But the small size Mullerian duct cysts were not found in TRUS but were found in MRI. Hemorrhage of the ejaculatory duct and seminal vesicle, thickened ampulla portion of vas deferens were found only in MRI. Ejaculatory duct and seminal vesicle calcification were not easily found in TRUS due to their small size. The findings of seminal vesicle atrophy, dilatation and prostatic calcification between TRUS and MRI were discrepant. In conclusion, MRI is more helpful than TRUS in the diagnosis of small Mullerian duct cyst, small ejaculatory duct calculi, small seminal vesicle calculi, hemorrhage of ejaculatory duct and seminal vesicle and thickened ampulla portion of vas eferens.
Atrophy ; Calculi ; Diagnosis* ; Dilatation ; Ejaculatory Ducts ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Seminal Vesicles ; Ultrasonography* ; Vas Deferens

No abstract available.
Pancreatic Neoplasms

PURPOSE: Since the medical insurance system was started in Korea, there has been an imbalance in the medical charges among the procedural items of special departments. For correcting this problem, the Resource-based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) was introduced to determine the relative values of physician services and practices. The RBRVS is the prevailing model used today to describe, quantify and reimburse physicians for their services. In this study we attempted to clarify the relative values of the practice characteristics in vascular surgery and evaluate the propriety compared with the relative value unit (RVU) of the American Medical Association (AMA). METHOD: The classification of practice characteristics in vascular surgery was compared with that of the AMA. The propriety of physicians' work was measured according to the Korean and American physicians' work. The rate more than 70, between 50 to 69, and less than 49 were used to decide over-, proper- or under-estimation, respectively. RESULT: The ratio of the number of practice characteristics in Korean and American vascular surgery was 1:3.31 (97:321). The over-, proper- or under-estimated physicians' work among the identical American practice characteristics was 8/46 (17.4%), 19/46 (41.3%) and 19/46 (41.3%) respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that the practice characteristics of Korean vascular surgery are not sorted by detail and a large percentage of physicians' work (41.3%) is under-estimated. Therefore, reasonable payment for physician services or practices can not be determined for Korean vascular surgery.
American Medical Association ; Fees and Charges ; Insurance ; Korea ; Relative Value Scales

PURPOSE: hear stress (SS) and cyclic strain (CS) influence the expression of membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) in microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs). It is known that changes in the level of Sp1 phosphorylation are important for MT1-MMP expression following SS and CS. However, the exact mechanism underlying this process is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of PKCzeta on serine phosphorylation and activation of Sp1 in response to SS and CS. METHOD: MVECs were exposed to SS or CS for up to 8 hours with or without PKCzeta inhibitors. The activity and phosphorylation of Sp1 were assessed by Western blot analysis and immunoprecipitation. MT1-MMP protein expression was assessed by Western blot analysis. RESULT: PKCzeta was phosphorylated and activated under SS, whereas no significant changes were noted under CS. SS increased Sp1 phosphorylation in a time-dependent manner, but no changes in the Sp1 phosphorylation were observed when the MVECs were pretreated with the PKCzeta inhibitors. By contrast, MVECs exposed to CS in the presence or absence of PKCzeta inhibitors showed no change in the phosphorylation of Sp1. SS decreased MT1-MMP protein expression in a time-dependent manner, but in the presence of PKCzeta inhibitors, MT1-MMP expression was not changed compared with the static levels after SS. CS increases MT1-MMP expression in a time-dependent manner. Similar expression was observed when the cells were pretreated with PKCzeta inhibitors under CS. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that the increased affinity of Sp1 for the MT1-MMP's promoter site occurs because of PKCzeta induced phosphorylation of Sp1 in response to SS.
Blotting, Western ; Endothelial Cells* ; Immunoprecipitation ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 14* ; Membranes ; Phosphorylation ; Serine

PURPOSE: Progressive shortening of telomeres, specialized chromosomal structures that have a function in chromosomal protection, positioning and replication, has been linked to cell senescence and aging. Telomeres are usually replicated by telomerase, the activation of which is essential for cells to overcome cellular senescence; and thus, indefinite proliferation/immortality and malignant progression are associated with telomere activity. However, little is known about the telomerase activity in adenomatous polyp and colorectal cancer. METHODS: To determine whether malignant progression depends on the activation of telomerase or not, we analyzed the telomerase activity in the mucosa of normal colon, adenomatous polyp and colorectal cancer by telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Except for one case in which there was severe inflammation, telomerase activity was not detected in any case of histologically normal colonic mucosa. In contrast, enzyme activity was detected in 58.3% (7/12), 75% (15/20) of adenomatous polyps and colorectal carcinomas, respectively. Of these cases of adernomatous polyps, telomerase activity was positive in 40% (2/5) of tubular type, 66.7% (4/6) of villotubular type and 100% (1/1) of villous type; however, the difference in telomerase activity between tubular and villotubular types was not significant. Of these 20 cases of carcinomas, telomerase activity was positive in 100% (2/2) of well differentiated, 71.4% (10/14) of moderately differentiated and 75% (3/4) of poorly differentiated histologies. Taking into consideration the Dukes' classification, there was no significant difference in telomerase activity among stages A, B and C, except for D. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that telomerase activation in colorectal cancer may well correlate with malignant progression. The detection of telomerase activity may serve as a useful auxiliary tool for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer; nevertheless, the histological type of adenomatouspolyps, the histological differentiation and the stage of cancer may not correlate with telomerase activity.
Adenomatous Polyps* ; Aging ; Cell Aging ; Classification ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Inflammation ; Mucous Membrane* ; Polyps ; Telomerase* ; Telomere

We performed a retrospective study of 12,307 patients who visited the emergency room of St. Paul's Hospital, secondary medical center, from January 1 to December 31,1996. The results were as follows : 1. Of 12,307 total patients, male to female ratio was 1.16:1 but after 7th decade, there were more female than male. And 3rd decade was the peak age group. 2. The majority o(patients visited our emergency room from noon to midnight (65% of total patients). 3. On average,33.7 patients visited our emergency room per day. Most patients visited on Sundays and other holidays(average 43.3 per day). 4. By monthly distribution, the patients Increased slightly during May, June, July, August and September. 5. Disease to injury ratio was 2.6:1. In disease, male to female ratio was 1 :1 and in injury, the male prominence had a the ratio 1.8:1 In 2nd decade, disease to injury ratio was higher (1.4:1) than that of other decade. And there were mostly disease patients in the group under 1 year old (19.2: 1). 6. Of 12,307 total patients,5,458 patients received only Intern's treatment (44.3%). In 3rd decade, the ratio of Intern's treatment was higher (54.4%). 7, The patients were categorized as follows, Infernal medicine 28.1%, Pediatrics 18.2fo, Orthopedic surgery 13.2%, Plastic surgery 7.4% etc. 8. Averaged admission rate was 25.3% and the rate of general surgery was the highest (49.5%). The rate of admission to intensive care unit (ICU) was 5.5% of total visiting patients and 21.8% of total admission patients. 9. The total patients transferred from other hospitals were 1152 (9.4%), 3.16 per day. The majority used non-emergency vehicles and only 8.5% of patients used the rescue service or ambulances. 10. The average transit time spent in the emergency room was 182 minutes. The longest was 246 minutes in March and the shortest 127 minutes in January.
Ambulances ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Orthopedics ; Pediatrics ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgery, Plastic

PURPOSE: Although cystoscopy is useful for diagnosing urologic diseases, it is a painful procedure. Pain during cystoscopy can be reduced with the help of a midazolam induced anesthetic technique. However, the safety of anesthetic cystoscopy has not been established. This study investigated the value and safety of midazolam induced anesthetic cystoscopy. MATERIALS AND MTHODS: 50 male patients, who were examined with cystoscopy, were divided into two groups. Group I patients (n=25) received ketorolac 30mg. Group II patients (n=25) were treated with midazolam 3mg, which was increased to 5mg if necessary. All the group II patients were treated with flumazenil 0.2mg after anesthetic cystoscopy. There was no significant difference in age and weight. The mean midazolam dose was 3.72mg in group II. The blood pressure, pulse rate and respiratory rate were checked and the vital signs were monitored continuously by an oxymeter and electrocardiography. The sedation score, pain scale, recovery from sedation, and satisfaction were evaluated. RESULTS: The pain scale in group II was significantly lower than that of group I. Although the blood pressure, pulse rate or respiratory rate changed slightly during cystoscopy, they were within the normal limit and there was no need for additional treatment. Recovery from anesthetic cystoscopy was good and satisfaction for the anesthetic cystoscopy was high. CONCLUSIONS: The pain scale of the midazolam group was lower than that of control group and the patients' satisfaction is better than when using of conventional cystoscopy. Midazolam induced anesthetic cystoscopy is a useful and safe procedure.
Anesthesia* ; Blood Pressure ; Cystoscopy* ; Electrocardiography ; Flumazenil ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Ketorolac ; Male ; Midazolam* ; Respiratory Rate ; Urologic Diseases ; Vital Signs