A varicocele is an abnormal tortuosity and dilatation of the veins of pampiniform plexus within the spermatic cord, which is usually best demonstrated with the patient in the standing position. Valsalva's maneuver brings out a varicocele, and assuming ever, after surgical intervention, the sperm quality is improved. The exact mechanism of the effect of varicocelectomy on semen quality is not clear. A clinical study was made on 20 cases of varicocele during the period from August 1981 to July 1983, at Masan Korea General Hospital. The results were obtained as follows: 1. During this period, the total number of in-patients at Department of Urology was 598, among which 20 cases had varicocele, giving a rate of about 3% of total in-patients. 2. The age distribution was between 21 and 35 year, showing the highest incidence in 21 to 30 year (90%) age group. 3. The side of the lesion showed 95% in left, and 5% in right. 4. The chief complaint showed dragging pain and palpable mass in 90% and infertility in 10%. 5. In all cases, semen analysis was done preoperatively, among 'which 70% shoed poor semen quality. Postoperatively eight cases of semen analysis was done with the result of 62.5% of improvement. 6. In all cases, operation was performed by Palomo's procedure. 7. No complication or recurrence was found in one year follow up study.
Age Distribution ; Dilatation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infertility ; Korea ; Recurrence ; Semen Analysis ; Spermatic Cord ; Spermatozoa ; Urology ; Valsalva Maneuver ; Varicocele* ; Veins

It is generally conceded that vasectomy is one of the most reliable methods of birth control because the technique is relatively simple, and the complete obstruction of the pathway for spermatozoa. However, a lot of unexpected effects were found after vasectomy. The possibility that it may effect changes in the function and structure of the testis and epididymis, as it were the formation of the sperm granuloma and antisperm antibody has been an important consideration in the controversy. The fate of non-ejaculated spermatozoa is postulated by some authors that those are disappeared by a progress of dissolution and reabsorption in the epididymis, or by formation of the sperm granuloma. According to Choi and Kim`s report about the effects of the seminal vesiculectomy on the structure and function of the testis and epididymis in rats. The distribution ratio of the sperm granuloma formation was higher in group of vasectomy and seminal vesiculectomy than that of vasectomy only, which indicated that the seminal vesicle produces a certain substance which enhance the sperm to be dissolved and reabsorbed in the epididymis. Therefore, we have attempted to prove the true state of sperm-acrosome on the fine structure after vasectomy and seminal vesiculectomy. The results were as follows: 1. The acrosomal membrane appeared quite intact on the electron microscopic study. 2. The architecture of the nucleus remained unchanged. 3. There was no evidence of nuclear membrane discontinuities, nor widening of the subacrosomal space. 4. Seminal vesicle seems to have some destructive activity on the sperm-acrosome after vasectomy.
Acrosome ; Animals ; Contraception ; Epididymis ; Granuloma ; Male ; Membranes ; Nuclear Envelope ; Rats ; Seminal Vesicles ; Spermatozoa ; Testis ; Vasectomy*

Surgery of renal lithiasis has progressed considerably during the past 20 years. The first of many advances was an intrasinusal approach to the renal pelvis, which has allowed removal of calculi through the collecting system without causing damage to the renal parenchyma or its vessels. The second was substitution of the longitudinal pyelotomy with a transverse pyelotomy. We present a surgical observation on 43 cases of renal stones during the period from March, 1981 to April, 1983 on the Department of Urology of Masan Korea hospital, in Masan. Pyelolithotomy was performed in 19 patients, nephrectomy in 12, extended pyelolithotomy in 11 and partial nephrectomy in one patient.
Calculi ; Humans ; Kidney Pelvis ; Korea ; Lithiasis ; Nephrectomy ; Urology

Sparganosis is a parasitic infestation which is manifested principally in the cats or dogs, but many human infestations have not been reported uncommonly. In Korea, the reported cases of human sparganosis are more than 20 cases till now Moreover the urogenital infestation of sparganosis is rarely observed. We have experienced one case of sparganosis in scrotum, which would often be confused with the sperm granuloma.
Animals ; Cats ; Dogs ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Korea ; Scrotum* ; Sparganosis* ; Spermatozoa

BACKGROUND: During ligament balancing for severe medial contracture in varus knee total knee arthroplasty (TKA), complete distal release of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) or a medial epicondylar osteotomy can be necessary if a large amount of correction is needed. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed 9 cases of complete distal release of the MCL and 11 cases of medial epicondylar osteotomy which were used to correct severe medial contracture. The mean follow-up periods were 46.5 months (range, 36 to 78 months) and 39.8 months (range, 32 to 65 months), respectively. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the clinical results between the two groups. However, the valgus stress radiograph revealed significant differences in medial instability. In complete distal release of the MCL, some stability was obtained by repair and bracing but the medial instability could not be removed completely. CONCLUSIONS: Medial epicondylar osteotomy for a varus deformity in TKA could provide constant medial stability and be a useful ligament balancing technique.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint/physiopathology/radiography/*surgery ; Ligaments ; Ligaments, Articular/*physiopathology ; Medial Collateral Ligament, Knee/physiopathology/*surgery ; Middle Aged ; Osteotomy/*methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: NF-κB is the most important transcriptional factor in Il-8 gene expression. Triptolide is a new compound that recently has been shown to inhibit NF-κB activation. The purpose of this study is to investigate how triptolide inhibits NF-κB-dependent IL-8 gene transcription in lung epithelial cells and to pilot the potential for the clinical application of triptolide in inflammatory lung diseases. METHODS: A549 cells were used and triptolide was provided from Pharmagenesis Company (Palo Alto, CA). In order to examine NF-κB-dependent IL-8 transcriptional activity, we established stable A549 IL-8-NF-κB-luc. cells and performed luciferase assays. IL-8 gene expression was measured by RT-PCR and ELISA. A Western blot was done for the study of IκBα degradation and as electromobility shift assay was done to analyze NF-κB DNA binding. p65 specific transactivation was analyzed by a cotransfection study using a Gal4-p65 fusion protein expression system. To investigate the involvement of transcriptional coactivators, we perfomed a transfection study with CBP and SRC-1 expression vectors. RESULTS: We observed that triptolide significantly suppresses NF-κB-dependent IL-8 transcriptional activity induced by IL-1β and PMA. RT-PCR showed that triptolide represses both IL-1β- and pMA-induced IL-8 mRNA expression and ELISA confirmed this triptolide-mediated IL-8 suppression at the protein level. However, triptolide did not affect IκBα degradation and NF-κB DNA binding. In a p65-specific transactivation study, triptolide significantly suppressed Gal4-p65TA1 and Gal4-p65TA2 activity suggesting that triptolide inhibits NF-κB activation by inhibiting p65 transactivation. However, this triptolide-mediated inhibition of p65 transactivation was not rescued by the overexpression of CBP or SRC-1, thereby excluding the role of transcriptional coactivators. CONCLUSIONS: Triptolide is a new compound that inhibits NF-κB-dependent IL-8 transcriptional activation by inhibiting p65 transactivation, but not by an IκBα-dependent mechanism. This suggests that triptolide may have a therapeutic potential for inflammatory lung diseases.
Blotting, Western ; DNA ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epithelial Cells* ; Gene Expression ; Interleukin-8* ; Luciferases ; Lung Diseases ; Lung* ; NF-kappa B* ; RNA, Messenger ; Transcriptional Activation ; Transfection

We describe a case of delayed cyst formation that presented as intermittent knee locking after complicated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using a Bio-TransFix implant in a 21-year-old male patient. During femoral fixation, we could not pull out the guide wire that was temporarily used for the femoral fixation. However, stability was good, and the guide wire was not removed. This was shown to be a wrong type of fixation in a later study. During follow-up, the patient was satisfied and stability was relatively good until 18 months post-operatively. From the 2nd post-operative year, he experienced intermittent knee swelling and locking and pain around the lateral femoral condyle. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging showed a large cyst around the broken wire tip, but the reconstructed ACL was fine.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study compared the results of rotating-platform high-flexion (RP-F) total knee arthroplasty with low contact stress (LCS) for clinical and radiographical assessment after a short-term period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 68 total knee arthroplasties using a RP-F and LCS system were analyzed retrospectively. Thirty-five of the 68 were osteoarthritic knees and were followed-up for more than 2 years. The clinical evaluation included range of motion (ROM), Knee Society Knee Score and Function Score (KSKS and KSFS), tailor position and kneeling. The radiographic evaluation included femorotibial angle, position of implants, radiolucent line and position of patella. RESULTS: The postoperative ROM, KSKS, and KSFS improved statistically in both implants. Comparing RP-F with LCS there were statistically no differences in ROM (p=0.863), KSKS (p=0.835), KSFS (p=0.535) and tailor position (p=0.489). There were no significant radiographic differences. CONCLUSIONS: Total knee arthroplasty with RP-F and LCS showed similar clinical and radiographic results; it also showed excellent and predictable results at the short-term follow up. However, in RP-F there was 1 case of early osteolysis, 1 case of patella clunk syndrome and 1 case of painful patella crepitus; therefore, further case studies and follow-up are needed.
Arthroplasty ; Follow-Up Studies ; Knee ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteolysis ; Patella ; Prostheses and Implants ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Ursidae