No abstract available.
Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fertilization in Vitro*

No abstract available.
Oocytes* ; Pregnancy* ; Spermatozoa*

No abstract available.
Femur* ; Humans

Many kinds of different treatment options for fecal incontinence such as biofeedback therapy, anterior or posterior sphincteroplasty, pelvic floor repair, gracilis or gluteus muscle transposition have been introduced. However, appropriate indications for these treatment options have not yet been delineated up to now. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to access the preoperative severity of fecal incontinence by physiologic tests to give an idea that indications of appropriate selection criteria and parameters for assess the outcome could be simultaneously considered by preoperatively objective physiologic data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 3, 1997 to, August 1, 1997 all patients with fecal incontinence who visited colorectal clinic in the Department of Surgery, Korea Veterans Hospital, were classified into two groups according to the severity of fecal incontinence (0~20): Group I (1~9), Group II (10~20) and compared them with the results of physiologic tests: anorectal manometry, endorectal ultrasound (ERU), cinedefecography, and pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML). Statistical analysis was performed by Student's-t test, and Chi-square test and p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The number of GI was 25, and GII was 22. There were no differences between the two groups in terms of age (GI: 57.7+/-14.5, GII: 61.4+/-14.0years), gender (male: female, 19:6, 16:6), cause (neurogenic; 11/25 (GI),7/22(GII), postanal surgery; 6/25,6/22) obstetric trauma (2/25, 2/22), anal trauma (1/25, 1/22) diabetes melitus (1/25, 2/22), rectal prolapse (2/25, 1/22), and others (2/25, 3/22), duration of fecal incontinence (64.4+/-82.2, 48.7+/-65.3 months), high pressure zone (3.3+/-1.7, 3.5+/-1.4 cm), mean resting pressure (50.5+/-27.0, 51.9+/-18.7 cm H2O), maximal resting pressure (88.4+/-50.6, 89.4+/-41.8 cm), maximal squeezing pressure (150.6+/-71.0, 129.7+/-59.5 cm H2O), rectoanal inhibitatory reflex (13/21, 8/21 positive), sensitivity (37.5+/-15.2, 41.8+/-29.0 cc), compliance (19.0+/-14.5, 21.4+/-39.4 cc/cm H2O) in anorectal manometric findings, anal sphincter defect (13/21, 15/22 positive), size of defect (60+/-26.30degrees, 71 +/-30.8degrees/360degrees), thickness of the external anal sphincter (3.46+/-0.78, 3.84 +/-1.02 cm), thickness of internal anal sphincter (1.58+/-0.79, 1.74+/-0.81 cm) in ERU, anorectal angle in rest (85.2+/-28.0degrees, 97+/-22.9degrees), squeeze (72+/-27.1degrees, 82 +/-19.7degrees), push (100+/-43.9degrees, 117.9+/-34.5degrees), length of perineal descent in rest (3.7+/-1.2, 3.6+/-1.7 cm), squeeze (2.9+/-1.5, 2.7+/-1.5 cm), push (7.9+/-3.5, 6.6+/-2.6 cm) in cinedefecography. However, rectal capacity in manometry (212.5+/-99.9, 155+/-51.5 cc, p<0.05), right PNTML (1.73+/-0.39, 2.71+/-0.83 ms, p<0.001), and left PNTML (1.83+/-0.43, 2.94+/-0.80 ms, p<0.001) were significantly increased in GII compare to those of GI. CONCLUSION: As the severity of fecal incontinence was increased, rectal capacity, right and, left PNTML were increased.
Anal Canal ; Biofeedback, Psychology ; Compliance ; Fecal Incontinence* ; Female ; Hospitals, Veterans ; Humans ; Korea ; Manometry ; Patient Selection ; Pelvic Floor ; Pudendal Nerve ; Rectal Prolapse ; Reflex ; Ultrasonography

Segmental dilatation of small intestine or colon can induce signs of intestinal obstruction, such as abdominal distension, vomiting and constipation. There are no anatomical gross obstructive lesions, and moreover, ganglion cells are observed in both dilated and undilated distal segments of the intestine. It often accompanied by other congenital anomalies. We reported two cases of segmental dilatation of the intestine in the newborn infants, one in small intestine and the other in colon, with brief review of the related literatures.
Colon ; Constipation ; Dilatation* ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intestine, Small ; Intestines* ; Vomiting

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to use finite element analysis to predict the fatigue life of an implant system subjected to fatigue load by mastication (chewing force). The reliability and the stability of implant system can be defined in terms of the fatigue strength. Not only an implant is expensive but also it is almost impossible to correct after it is inserted. From a bio-engineering standpoint, the fatigue strength of the dental implant system must be evaluated by simulation (FEA). Material and Methods: Finite element analysis and fatigue test are performed to estimate the fatigue strength of the implant system. Mesh of implant is generated with the actual shape and size. In this paper, the fatigue strength of implant system is estimated: U-fit (T.Strong, Korea, internal type). The stress field in implant is calculated by elastic-plastic finite element analysis. The equivalent fatigue stress, considering the contact and preload stretching of a screw by torque for tightening an abutment, is obtained by means of Sine's method. To evaluate the reliability of the calculated fatigue strength, fatigue test is performed. Results: A comparison of the calculated fatigue strength with experimental data showed the validity and accuracy of the proposed method. The initiation points of the fatigue failure in the implant system exist in the region of high equivalent fatigue stress values. Conclusion: The above proposed method for fatigue life estimation can be applied to other configurations of the differently designed and improved implant. In order to prove reliability of prototype implant, fatigue test should be executed. The proposed method is economical for the prediction of fatigue life because fatigue testing, which is time consuming and precision-dependent, is not required.
Bioengineering ; Dental Implants ; Fatigue* ; Finite Element Analysis ; Korea ; Mastication ; Torque

Dermatofibroma with granular cells is composed mainly of spindle shaped cells mixed with in-conspicuous foamy cells that contain granular cytoplasm. We present a case of dermatofibroma with granular cells in a 36-year-old male who visited our clinic to evaluate a slow-growing nodule on the medial side of the left lawer leg. He have had the nodule for five years and sometimes felt an itching sensation. Biopsy of the nodule identified a dermal nodular tumor showing cellular spindle cell proliferation admixed with peripheral foamy histiocytes. With the immunohistochemical staining, the granular cell was positive for alpha-1-antitrypsin and CD68, and negative for S-100. A few electron-dense granules were seen in the cytoplasm on the electronmicroscopic study. These results suggested that the granular cells originated from histiocytes.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytoplasm ; Histiocytes ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Humans ; Leg ; Male ; Pruritus ; Sensation

Since the 1960's, Korea has achieved rapid economic growth, longer life expectancy, accelerated urbanization and a westernization of diet. Cardiovascular disease has become the leading cause of death; however the prevalence of ischemic heart disease(IHD) remains low. A cross-sectional multiphasic screening service for 18,426 persons aged 30 64 years in a Medical Aid Program in Kyonggi-do Province was conducted from 1991 to 1993. Total cholesterol(TC), Fasting blood glucose(FBG), blood pressure(BP), and electrocardiographic(EKG) data were collected. The result as follows; 1. On the EKG findings, the age-adjusted prevalence of myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction was 1.45% in men and 2.06% in women. 2. The mean blood pressure was 122.9/78.8mmHg. The age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension was 11.05% in men and 9.02% in women. The prevalence of hypertension showed increasing tendency according to age increase. In all age group, the prevalence of hypertension was higher in men than women. 3. The mean total cholesterol level was 184.4mg/dl in men and 189.2mg/dl in women. The age-adjusted prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 4.88% in men and 5.67% in women. The total cholesterol level showed increasing tendency according to age increase, except 55 64 age group in men. 4. The prevalence of hyperglycemia is 5.8%. The age-adjusted prevalence of hyperglycemia is 6.72% in men and 4.50% in women. The prevalence of hyperglycemia showed increasing tendency according to age increase. 5. On the EKG findings, the prevalence of myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction was higher in hypertension than normal, in all age group of men and women less than 40 years-old. Only in women more than 40 years-old, the prevalence of myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction was higher in hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia. Nevertheless there is not statistical association between ischemic heart disease and previous risk factors in other age group, the prevalence of myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction was higher in hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia than normal. The result of this study suggest that relationships between major risk factor of ischemic heart disease and ischemic heart disease is similar to existing theory.
Adult ; Blood Glucose* ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cause of Death ; Cholesterol* ; Diet ; Economic Development ; Electrocardiography* ; Fasting* ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hyperglycemia ; Hypertension* ; Korea ; Life Expectancy ; Male ; Multiphasic Screening ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia* ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Urbanization

This study was performed to evlauate the usefulness of red ginseng extract as an adjuvant therapeutic agent to improve immune function in immune compromizing gastrointestinal carcinoma patients. We treated 48 patients with two regimens after we undertook the curative resection for gastrointestinal carcinoma: 1) only chemotherapy and immunotherapy (control group), 2) chemotherapy and immunotherapy with 4500-5400mg red ginseng for 6 months (study group). For investigating the immunologic alternations alongside the numerical changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte and their subsets in the gastrointestinal carcinoma patients, lymphocyte surface markers were determined by monoclonal antibodies on the preoperative 1st day, and postoperative 5th day, 1 month, 3 month and 6 month in 28 controls and 20 red ginseng groups in gastrointestinal carcinoma patients which were recruited at Korea University Hospital from March, 1995 to December, 1995. The mean value for body weight was increased in the ginseng group than in the control group. There were no significant differences of serum hematocrit, hemoglobin, total protein and albumin in both groups. The total lymphocyte count was much more increased in the ginseng group than in the control group. The number of T cell, B cell, CD8, CD4, NK cell and activated T cell were increased in ginseng group more than in control group. The T cell was significantly increased on postoperative 5th day, 3 month and 6 month, and B cell on postoperative 6 month in ginseng group than in control group. The CD8 was significantly increased on postoperative 3 month and 6 month, CD4 on postoperative 5th day, and NK cell and activated T cell also on postoperative 6 month in ginseng group than in control group. In conclusion, red ginseng may be useful as a longterm adjuvant therapeutic agent for improving the immune function and anticarcinogenic effect after curative operation for immune compromizing gastrointestinal carcinoma patients.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Anticarcinogenic Agents ; Body Weight ; Drug Therapy ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Korea ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocytes ; Panax*

OBJECT: This study was carried out to investigate the effect of pentoxifylline on in vitro fertillization and developmen of preimplantation stage of mouse embryos. MATERIAL AND METHODS:F1 hybrid mice was superovulated with PMSG/hCG and mouse oocytes were recruited. After the normal sperms were incubated with PTX before in vitro fertilization, it was observed whether the fertilization and embryo development was affected or not by the sperm preparation(washing, dilution and no washing or no dilution). And after 1-cell and 2-cell stage of mouse embryos were incubated with PTX, the development to hatching blastocyst was also observed. RESULTS: When in vitro fertilization was revealed by using the washed normal sperms after 0, 3.6 and 7.2 mM PTX incubation, the fertilization rates were 92.5%, 48.8%, 36.8%, respectively. So 3.6 and 7.2 mM groups presented significantly low fertilizatin rate, but the development rates were 93.9%, 85.0%, 95.2%, respectively. Therefore, there were no significant difference between each group. When in vitro fertilization was revealed by using the diluted normal sperms after 0, 3.6, and 7.2 mM PTX incubation, the fertilization rates were 58.6%, 5.4%, 9.4%, respectively. So 3.6 and 7.2 mM groups presented significantly low fertilization rate. The developmental rates were 88.2%, 100%, 100%. And there were no significant difference between each group. When in vitro fertilization was revealed by using the not washed and not diluted normal sperms after 0, 3.6 and 7.2 mM PTX incubation, the fertilizatin rates were 61.2%, 5.7%, 3.8%, respectively. 3.6 and 7.2 mM group presented significantly low fertilization rate. The development rates were 73.3%, 0%, 0%, respectively. So 3.6, 7.2 mM group presented significantly low developmental rate. After 1-cell stage of mouse embryos were incubated in 0, 5, 10, 50 nM of PTX, the development rates were not significantly different among them. After 2-cell stage of mouse embryos were incubated in 0, 5, 10, 50 nM of PTX, the development rates were not significantly different among them. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, when PTX is used in in vitro fertilization program with normal sperms, it may affect the fertilization and embryo development in high concentration. And if PTX concentration is very low, the developmental rate would not be affected. So PTX must not be used to normal sperms and where use of PTX is indicated, it is recommended that remainder PTX must be removed as completely as possible.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Mice* ; Oocytes ; Pentoxifylline* ; Pregnancy ; Spermatozoa*