PURPOSE: Because cryptorchid testes are known to undergo histopathologic changes affecting development, maturation, and tertility, early surgical correction is usually recommended. However there are differing opinions concerning whether retractile testes are affected by similar changes and also whether there is a need for surgical treatment. We aimed to assess the histopathologic changes in retractile testis by studying the changes in testes artificially placed back in the abdomen after they have descended to scrotum in experimental rat models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups; a control group(controls), prepubertal ascent group (P) in which testis were placed back intraabdominally by bilateral inguinal canal obstruction at 6 weeks, a neonatal group(N) in which intraabdminal testis was induced by bilateral inguinal canal obstruction at birth. The relative weight of the testis, morphology of the seminiferous tubules including Leydig cells, tubular degeneration phase(TDP), spermatogonia per tubules(S/T), and Sertoli cell index (SCI) of these three groups were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: The relative weight of testis was significantly decreased in the group of N(0.0016+/-0.001) and P(0.0015+/-0.0002) compared to controls(0.0037+/-0.0002) (p<0.05). The S/T value was also decreased in P(2.05+/-18.2) and N(73.2+/-32.4) when compared to controls (360.2+/-21.3). Similar changes were observed in SCI of both P(64.5+/-6.4) and N (91.2+/-14.2) when compared to controls (227.9+/-31.1). Only minority of N and P showed higher TDP values. However, although statistically insignificant, TDP was increased in both P and N when compared to controls. The Leydig cells in N and P showed cellular distortion and hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrate that prepubertal ascent, similar to that of innate cryptorchid testis, also can induce histopathologic changes such as changes in testicular seminiferous tubule, decrease in the S/T value and decrease in SCI value. Our findings supports that hypothesis that retractile testis may cause histological damage thus surgical correction may also be warranted similar to in case of genuine cryptorchism.
Abdomen* ; Animals ; Cryptorchidism ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Inguinal Canal ; Leydig Cells ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Models, Theoretical ; Parturition ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Scrotum ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Spermatogonia ; Testis*

No abstract available.
Anoxia* ; Blood Gas Analysis* ; Humans ; Incidence*

The reference values of motor unit action potentials(MUAP) of first dorsal interosseous and tibialis anterior muscles were measured in 50 healthy subjects. The MUAPs were recorded with a concentric needle electrode and extracted with a decomposition method. Sixty six patients with neuropathy were also studied in the same way with a count of outliers and measurement of mean values. The mean values of amplitude, area, duration and thickness were 667.74+/-204.34 V, 992.26+/-253.18 Vms, 9.75+/-1.95 ms and 1.49+/-0.26 ms, respectively in the first dorsal interosseous muscles, and 612.88+/-140.13 V, 1172.84+/-199.21 Vms, 11.41+/-2.48 ms and 1.93+/-0.34 ms respectively in the tibialis anterior muscles. There was no significant difference in age and gender of normal subjects. The amplitude was the most sensitive parameter to detect abnormality in a count of outliers and measurement of mean values. The outliers count in duration showed a higher sensitivity than the measurement of mean values(p<0.05), but not in amplitude, area or thickness. Based on the results of this study, the count of outliers was more sensitive than the measurement of mean values in the diagnosis of patients with neuropathy. Further more, less numbers of MUAPs were needed for the evaluation of the outliers count. Through this method we could save the evaluation time and the patients felt more comfortable.
Diagnosis ; Electrodes ; Humans ; Muscles ; Needles ; Reference Values

The authors present a case of respiration arrest after posterior lumbar interbody fusion. This rare complication occurred because of the tension pneumoperitoneum and pneumomediastinum. We report the pathophysiology and treatments.
Mediastinal Emphysema* ; Pneumoperitoneum* ; Pneumothorax* ; Respiration

This study was designed to identify doxorubicin as a permanent chemomyectomy agent that overcomes reversible effect of botulinum toxin A. Doxorubicin was assessed for its ability to bring about a permanent chemomyectomy and the effects of pretreatment were observed to assess its ability to prevent any complications brought about by doxorubicin. A total of thirteen rabbits were assigned to the control group(n=3) and two experimental groups(n=5 for each group). To investigate the myopathic changes following the injections of the agent, both orbicularis oculi muscles of the lower eyelids of each rabbit in the control group were directly injected with single dose of 0.2ml normal saline. Group I were injected with 0.5mg/0.2ml of doxorubicin into the right eyelid and 1.0 mg/0.2 ml of doxorubicin into the left. Group II were given an intravenous injection of 35mg/kg of allopurinol as the pretreatment, then 30minutes later injected with 0.5mg/0.2ml of doxorubicin into the right and 1.0mg/ 0.2ml of doxorubicin into the left. The rabbits were examined daily to monitor the onset, duration and size of skin necrosis and histologically examined two and four months after initial injections. The myopathic change after doxorubicin injection was persistent and irreversible. The dose related effects of doxorubicin chemomyectomy were confirmed by the histologic finding. Skin necrosis occurred in all cases of doxorubicin injection(both 0.5mg and 1.0mg), however the allopurinol pretreatment decreased the size of the skin necrosis in case of the high dose(1.0mg) of doxorubicin. The combined use of allopurinol and doxorubicin reduced the myopathic change more effectively than doxorubicin use alone. Further study is needed to determine optimal dose and administration method, which we feel will contribute to safer and permanent chemomyectomy.
Allopurinol* ; Botulinum Toxins ; Doxorubicin* ; Eyelids ; Injections, Intravenous ; Muscles ; Necrosis ; Rabbits ; Skin

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of serum testosterone, intracavernous pressure, expression of nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) and content of penile smooth muscle in aged rat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague Dawley rats were used for this study and divided into control and aging groups. Intracavernous pressure was measured by stimulating the cavernous nerve with 10volt, 2.4mA. Expression of NOS was measured by immunohistochemical staining for NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) diaphorase and the content of penile smooth muscle was measured by Masson's trichrome staining for corpus cavernosum. In each case the stained area-tissue ratio was calculated by computer scanning. RESULTS: Compared with the control group (3.34-0.25ng/ml), the serum testosterone level of the aged group (1.41-0.37ng/ml) was decreased significantly. Compared with the control group (106.7-13.2cmH2O), the intracavernosal pressure of the aged group (71.2-12.3cmH2O) was decreased significantly. Immunohistochemical staining for NOS showed that NADPH diaphorase was stained as brown nerve fiber. Compared with the control group (40.5-3.1%), NOS activity of the aged group (9.5-2.5%) was decreased significantly. On Masson's trichrome staining, the content of penile smooth muscle was 62.8 3.9% in the control group. Compared with the control group, the smooth muscle content of the aged group (35.2-2.4%) was decreased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the factors involved in erectile function were decreased in aged rats.
Adenine ; Aging* ; Animals ; Muscle, Smooth ; NADP ; NADPH Dehydrogenase ; Nerve Fibers ; Nitric Oxide Synthase* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testosterone

The Mayer-Rokitansky-K ster-Hauser syndrome represents a spectrum of m llerian anomalies, including vaginal agenesis with or without renal anomalies, in genotypically and phenotypically normal female subjects with normal endocrine status. We experienced a case of this anomaly which combined with unilateral renal agenesis and pelvic cystic mass in child.
Child* ; Female ; Humans

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. PURPOSE: This study was conducted to compare vertebral body height restoration rate in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who had undergone percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty (KP) with that of control group who had matched age, sex, body mass index, and bone mineral density. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: There is no report on result of KP in RA patients. METHODS: Postoperative height restoration rate of RA group consisting of 15 patients (18 vertebral bodies) who had undergone KP due to osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture with a 30% or higher vertebral compression rate between May 2005 and January 2013 were compared to control group consisting of 38 patients (39 vertebral bodies) who had matched age, sex, body mass index, and bone mineral density. RESULTS: No statically significant difference in age (p=0.846), sex (p=0.366), body mass index (p=0.826), bone mineral density (p=0.349), time to surgery (p=0.528), polymethylmethacrylate injection time (p=0.298), or amount (p=0.830) was found between the RA group and the control group. However, preoperative compression rate in the RA group was significantly (p=0.025) higher compared to that in the control group. In addition, postoperative height restoration rate showed significant correlation with the RA group (p=0.008). Although higher incidence of recollapse occurred in the RA group compared to that in the control group, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.305). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the control group, RA patients showed higher compression rate and higher vertebral restoration rate after KP, indirectly indicating weaker bone quality in patients with RA. Higher incidence of recollapse occurred in the RA group compared to that in the control group, although it was not statistically significant.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Body Height ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density ; Fractures, Compression* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kyphoplasty* ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.

Inhibition of K⁺ outward currents by linopirdine in the outer hair cells (OHCs) of circling mice (homozygous (cir/cir) mice), an animal model for human deafness (DFNB6 type), was investigated using a whole cell patch clamp technique. Littermate heterozygous (+/cir) and ICR mice of the same age (postnatal day (P) 0 –P6) were used as controls. Voltage steps from –100 mV to 40 mV elicited small inward currents (–100 mV~–70 mV) and slow rising K⁺ outward currents (–60 mV ~40 mV) which activated near –50 mV in all OHCs tested. Linopirdine, a known blocker of K⁺ currents activated at negative potentials (I(K,n)), did cause inhibition at varying degree (severe, moderate, mild) in K⁺ outward currents of heterozygous (+/cir) or homozygous (cir/cir) mice OHCs in the concentration range between 1 and 100 µM, while it was apparent only in one ICR mice OHC out of nine OHCs at 100 µM. Although the half inhibition concentrations in heterozygous (+/cir) or homozygous (cir/cir) mice OHCs were close to those reported in I(K,n), biophysical and pharmacological properties of K⁺ outward currents, such as the activation close to –50 mV, small inward currents evoked by hyperpolarizing steps and TEA sensitivity, were not in line with I(K,n) reported in other tissues. Our results show that the delayed rectifier type K⁺ outward currents, which are not similar to I(K,n) with respect to biophysical and pharmacological properties, are inhibited by linopirdine in the developing (P0~P6) homozygous (cir/cir) or heterozygous (+/cir) mice OHCs.
Animals ; Deafness ; Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer* ; Humans ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Models, Animal ; Tea