To determine the concentration and the physiologic role of metal components in blood plasma and seminal plasma in relation to male infertility, the concentrations of twelve metal components in blood plasma and seminal plasma including Na, Mg, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Cd and Pb were measured by atomic absorbance spectrophotometery or ion selective electrode analysis. Semen and blood samples were obtained from a total of 110 men including 70 male infertility patients, 20 vasectomized persons and 20 fertility proven volunteers visited to the Male Infertility Clinic of Pusan National University Hospital. The concentrations of Ca, Zn, Mg, Cr and Cd in control group were higher in seminal plasma than in blood plasma, and additionally Pb were higher in infertility group. The concentrations of all metal components revealed no significant difference according to patients' age, resident, occupation, sperm density, motility and hormone level in blood plasma, but some metal components including Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn, Cd and Pb revealed a significant difference according to each these parameters except patient's age in seminal plasma. The concentrations of Mn, Cd and Pb in the vasectomy persons were higher than in the infertility group III including testicular and epididymal factors, but not in blood plasma. We conclude that the quantitative changes of metal components in the seminal plasma may have effects on not only spermatogenesis and sperm function, but also contribute to diagnostic parameter according to organ specificity of the metal in the male reproduction.
Busan ; Electrodes ; Fertility ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male ; Male* ; Occupations ; Organ Specificity ; Plasma ; Reproduction ; Semen* ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatozoa ; Vasectomy ; Volunteers

We experienced a case of congenital rubella syndrome manifesting patent ductus arteriosus, petechiae, microcephaly, intrauterine growth retardation, and hepatomegaly in one-day-old female newborn infant. Congenital rubella syndrome was confirmed by positive results of anti-rubella IgM in the sera of patient. Anti-rubella IgM was negative in the sera of mother, while anti-rubella IgG was positive.
Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Infant, Newborn ; Microcephaly ; Mothers ; Purpura ; Rubella Syndrome, Congenital*

No abstract available.
Ganglion Cysts* ; Knee Joint* ; Knee*

AIMS OF STUDY: Present study designed to observe inhibitory effects of propiverine HC1 and tiropramide against the smooth muscle contraction of female rat bladder. Propiverine has both direct smooth muscle relaxation and anticholinergic effect and has relatively fewer side effect than conventionally used drugs such as oxybutinin. Tiropramide has been known as modulatory agents of gastrointestinal motility but also has inhibitory effects against the bladder contraction. METHODS: 30 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Bladder body above ureteral orifice was resected under pentobarbital anesthesia. 1 x 0.5 cm sized smooth muscle strip was made, and incubated in Tyrode`s solution aerated with 95% oxygen. After reaching equilibrium state, each strip was stimulated by field stimulation (FS, 1-32 Hz) and bethanechol administration (0.0000001-0.0001M). From each strip, degree of muscle contraction was recorded by physiograph (Gilson IC-MP). After the control stimulations, each strip was treated by atropine, tiropramide, oxybutinin and propiverine HC1. After 30 minutes, same stimulation were repeated and degree of muscle contraction was compared to pre incubation data. RESULTS: Frequency and dose dependent muscle contractions were noted for both FS and bethanechol stimulation. Greater degree of contractions were noted for FS than for bethanechol stimulation. Inhibitory effects of tiropramide, propiverine HC1 and oxybutinin were greater than those of atropine at FS (1-32 Hz). At high concentration (0.0001M), all of the drugs but atropine inhibited field stimulated smooth muscle contraction more than 90%. At lower concentration (0. 0000001-0.000001M), inhibitory actions of oxybutinin and propiverine HC1 were greater than that of tiropramide (p>0.05). Propiverine HC1 and oxybutinin had similar inhibitory effect for all con-centration. At higher concentration (0.0001M), inhibitory effects of tiro-pramide were more than 98% whereas those of oxybutinin and propiverine HC1 were 88%. At low concentration (0.0000001-0.000001M), oxybutinin exhibited greater inhibition against the bethanechol induced contraction than did tiropramide and propiverine HC1. With these results, it was suggested that in low concentration, oxybutinin and propiverine HCI had greater inhibitory effect than did tiropramide against smooth muscle contraction of the bladder. In high concentration though, tiropramide had superior inhibitory effect than did oxybutinin and propiverine HC1. Since, no difference was noted between oxybutinin and propiverine HC1 for the inhibitory action of bladder contraction, propiverine HC1 seems reasonable substitute for the treatment of detrusor hyperreflexia with less side effects. Also these results indicate that tiropramide can be used for the management of unstable bladder.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Animals ; Atropine ; Bethanechol ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Humans ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Oxygen ; Pentobarbital ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reflex, Abnormal ; Relaxation ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder*

The nm23 gene was originally identified from murine melanoma cell lines of varying metastatic potential. A strong association has been observed between reduced expression of nm23 gene and acquisition of metastatic behavior in some tumor cells including breast cancer and melanoma, but not in others such as colon cancer, neuroblastoma, and cervical cancer. It was proposed that nm23 may function as a suppressor gene for tumor metastasis. It has recently been found that the sequence of nm23 and NDP-kinase(NDP-K) was identical. Mortality associated with human breast carcinoma is almost entirely due to subsequent metastasis, but the molecular basis of this metastasis is not understood. Elucidation of the genetic control of metastatic propensity of a tumor is important in determining prognosis and choice of therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of nm23 protein expression with axillary lymph node metastasis and other prognostic factors. Using an immunohistochemical technique and employing a polyclonal antibody to nm23 protein, we have determined nm23 expression in a series of 72 infiltrating ductal carcinomas of the breast. Immunostaining for the nm23 gene product have heterogenous cytoplasmic and nuclear staining in 61 patients(84.7%). Sections were scored according to relative abundance(1 = less than 25% of the cells, 2 = 26-75%, 3 = 76-100%). In 61 patients with positive immunostaining, the staining was scored as 1 in 41.6%, 2 in 18.0%, and 3 in 40.2%. The staining of tumor cells was greater than that in normal epithelial cells and stromal cells. No relationship was found between nm23 expression and lymph node metastasis, histologic grade, tumor size, estrogen receptors or progesterone receptors. Therefore, nm23 protein is increased in neoplastic tissues but no correlation with metastatic potential could be demonstrated. The biological mechanism of over-expression of nm23 in malignant cells and its role in tumor progression remain to be determined.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal* ; Cell Line ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Cytoplasm ; Epithelial Cells ; Genes, Suppressor ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Melanoma ; Mortality ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroblastoma ; Prognosis ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Stromal Cells ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

The nm23 gene was originally identified from murine melanoma cell lines of varying metastatic potential. A strong association has been observed between reduced expression of nm23 gene and acquisition of metastatic behavior in some tumor cells including breast cancer and melanoma, but not in others such as colon cancer, neuroblastoma, and cervical cancer. It was proposed that nm23 may function as a suppressor gene for tumor metastasis. It has recently been found that the sequence of nm23 and NDP-kinase(NDP-K) was identical. Mortality associated with human breast carcinoma is almost entirely due to subsequent metastasis, but the molecular basis of this metastasis is not understood. Elucidation of the genetic control of metastatic propensity of a tumor is important in determining prognosis and choice of therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of nm23 protein expression with axillary lymph node metastasis and other prognostic factors. Using an immunohistochemical technique and employing a polyclonal antibody to nm23 protein, we have determined nm23 expression in a series of 72 infiltrating ductal carcinomas of the breast. Immunostaining for the nm23 gene product have heterogenous cytoplasmic and nuclear staining in 61 patients(84.7%). Sections were scored according to relative abundance(1 = less than 25% of the cells, 2 = 26-75%, 3 = 76-100%). In 61 patients with positive immunostaining, the staining was scored as 1 in 41.6%, 2 in 18.0%, and 3 in 40.2%. The staining of tumor cells was greater than that in normal epithelial cells and stromal cells. No relationship was found between nm23 expression and lymph node metastasis, histologic grade, tumor size, estrogen receptors or progesterone receptors. Therefore, nm23 protein is increased in neoplastic tissues but no correlation with metastatic potential could be demonstrated. The biological mechanism of over-expression of nm23 in malignant cells and its role in tumor progression remain to be determined.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal* ; Cell Line ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Cytoplasm ; Epithelial Cells ; Genes, Suppressor ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Melanoma ; Mortality ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroblastoma ; Prognosis ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Stromal Cells ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Type F collagen is the major component of the basement membrane (BM) and is considered to act as a barrier during tumor invasion. In order to demonstrate the changes of type IV collagen in the BM. immunohistochemical methods were used in normal bladder and 27 cases of transitionral cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder for which clinical follow-up was available. Normal epithelial structures were urrounded by a generally intact BM type F collagen. In stage Ta lesion, type IV collagen was single layered but regular continuous linear fashion. In stage T1 or T2 lesion, they were partially disrupted in areas of invasion with irregular contour. In stage T3 lesion, type IV collagen was completely absent from BM. Above findings are very similar to our previous BM laminin study in bladder cancer. It supports the hypothesis that tumor cell conjugates with BM laminin and release the type IV collagenase which degrades the BM type IV collagen. In conclusion, it is suggested that both BM laminin and type IV collagen disappear in the area of invasion and the disappearance of BM type IV collagen in superficial disease may also provide early indication of invasive disease and careful monitoring ismandatory.
Basement Membrane* ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Collagen ; Collagen Type IV* ; Collagenases ; Follow-Up Studies ; Laminin ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder*

Meigs' syndrome is defined as a hydrothorax with ascites and a pelvic tumor, both of which resolve on removal of the tumor. Pseudo-Meigs' syndrome is a variant not possessing the original tumor cell types described by Meigs. Both these syndromes should be considered in otherwise healthy women who present with either new or recurrent hydrothorax and ascites. Pseudo-Meigs' syndrome occurs with the clinical triad of (1)ascites, (2)pleural effusion and (3)Brenner tumors, struma ovarii, benign thecomas, extreme ovarian edema, uterine leiomyomas or other benign pelvic tumors. A case of Pseudo-Meigs' syndrome associated with Brenner tumor is presented with a brief review of literatures.
Ascites ; Brenner Tumor ; Edema ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrothorax ; Leiomyoma ; Meigs Syndrome ; Struma Ovarii ; Thecoma

No Abstract Available.

Thirty-seven discoid lateral menisci of thirty-six patients were treated by arthroscopic means between January, 1987 and June, 1989. A discoid lateral meniscus was present in 15.3% of all patients who have underwent arthroscopy of the knee in this period. It was present in 25.7% of all meniscal lesions and in 39.4% of all lateral meniscal lesions. The average age was 22.7 years and the average length of follow up was thirteen months. Clinically, click sound was the most frequent symptom comprising 86% except knee pain, which was present in all. On physical examination, joint tenderness was present most frequently in 75%. On arthroscopic findings, twenty-eight discoid menisci had the tear and one had severe degenerative change. A tear was most frequently found in posterior horn and the most frequent pattern of tear was longitudinal including bucket-handle and peripheral type. Partial meniscectomy was performed on twenty-nine knees and subtotal meniscectomy on eight knees. At follow up, twenty-nine knees (78.4%) were rated excellent or good and eight knees (21.6%) were rated as fair. There were no poor results. We suggest that arthroscopic partial resection with preservation of normal meniscal shape as much as possible is more excellent than total meniscectomy for the symptomatic discoid meniscus.
Animals ; Arthroscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Horns ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Menisci, Tibial ; Physical Examination ; Tears