OBJECTIVE: The effects on spermatogenesis by expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Testicular specimens were obtained from 40 infertile males due to primary testicular failure and from 10 fertile males with other urologic problems. The specimens of infertile males were devided into 4 groups according to histologic findings; Sertoli cell only syndrome (A), maturation arrest (B), hypospermatogenesis (C) and sloughing and disorganization (D). VEGF and ET-1 expression were detected with immunohistochemical stain. RESULTS: VEGF expression on Leydig cell was detected in all cases. But, VEGF expression rates on germ cell were significantly higher in infertile group B, C, D compared to that of the control group (p<0.05). ET-1 expression rates on Leydig cell was significantly lower in all infertile group compared to that of the control group (p<0.05). But, ET-1 expression rates on Sertoli cell was significantly higher in all infertile group compared to that of the control group (p>0.05). In germ cell of infertile group, LH, FSH and prolactin were significantly decreased, and estradiol is increased in positive stain group on ET-1 immunohistochemical stain (p<0.05). VEGF and ET-1 expression were not correlated mean seminiferous tubule diameter (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal spermatogenesis would be reflected in VEGF expression in germ cell.
Endothelin-1* ; Estradiol ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; Prolactin ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

PURPOSE: We conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy of Doppler study by examining obstruction at the site of anastomosis in patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous return(TAPVR). METHODS: Retrograde analysis of the postoperative echocardiography results was done in 14 patients with simple TAPVR, who were operated at Dong-A University Hospital from January 1993 to July 1998. The peak systolic velocities, peak diastolic velocities and flow patterns of the 14 patients were compared with those of 9 control cases. Among the 14 patients, 2 cases showed evidence of obstruction at the anastomosis site. RESULTS: Pulmonary venous flow patterns of normal infants were biphasic, varying with the cardiac cycle. The peak velocities during systole and diastole were 40 to 60cm/sec(mean 51+/-9cm/sec) and 45 to 78cm/sec(mean 59+/-9cm/sec), respectively. The flow patterns of patients without postoperative stenosis were also biphasic. The peak velocities during systole and diastole was 38 to 115cm/sec(mean 71+/-27cm/sec) and 55 to 140cm/sec(mean 111+/-28cm/sec), respectively. The diastole peak velocity was significantly higher than normal(P=0.0002). The flow patterns of patients with postoperative stenosis was continuous, non-phasic or increased peak velocity even though it was phasic. CONCLUSION: Postoperative Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of pulmonary venous return in patients with TAPVR is useful in examining obstruction at the site of anastomosis. But a study on the Doppler echocardiographic normal range of postoperative patients will be needed.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Diastole ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Humans ; Infant ; Reference Values ; Scimitar Syndrome* ; Systole

PURPOSE: We conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy of Doppler study by examining obstruction at the site of anastomosis in patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous return(TAPVR). METHODS: Retrograde analysis of the postoperative echocardiography results was done in 14 patients with simple TAPVR, who were operated at Dong-A University Hospital from January 1993 to July 1998. The peak systolic velocities, peak diastolic velocities and flow patterns of the 14 patients were compared with those of 9 control cases. Among the 14 patients, 2 cases showed evidence of obstruction at the anastomosis site. RESULTS: Pulmonary venous flow patterns of normal infants were biphasic, varying with the cardiac cycle. The peak velocities during systole and diastole were 40 to 60cm/sec(mean 51+/-9cm/sec) and 45 to 78cm/sec(mean 59+/-9cm/sec), respectively. The flow patterns of patients without postoperative stenosis were also biphasic. The peak velocities during systole and diastole was 38 to 115cm/sec(mean 71+/-27cm/sec) and 55 to 140cm/sec(mean 111+/-28cm/sec), respectively. The diastole peak velocity was significantly higher than normal(P=0.0002). The flow patterns of patients with postoperative stenosis was continuous, non-phasic or increased peak velocity even though it was phasic. CONCLUSION: Postoperative Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of pulmonary venous return in patients with TAPVR is useful in examining obstruction at the site of anastomosis. But a study on the Doppler echocardiographic normal range of postoperative patients will be needed.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Diastole ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Humans ; Infant ; Reference Values ; Scimitar Syndrome* ; Systole

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Esophageal Atresia* ; Fistula* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Catecholamines* ; Female ; Labor Stage, Second* ; Parturition* ; Plasma* ; Pregnancy ; Supine Position*

Forty five patients (46 kidneys) who were admitted to the Department of Urology, Pusan National University Hospital between Jan. 1971 and July 1989 and confirmed histopathologically as renal cell carcinoma were analyzed for 11 host and 5 tumor factors relating to prognosis. The results were as follows. 1. Overall 1 and 2 to 5 year survival rates were 66.6 % and 56.3%, respectively. 2. There was no relationship between survival rates and sex, laterality or age of patients. 3. As host factors, palpable mass, fever, weight loss, Hgb, ESR, alpha2-globulin and CRP were clinically significant parameters for survival, whereas hematuria, pain, ALP and LDH were insignificant. 4. As tumor factors, stage, grade, cell type, infiltration, and vessel invasion were clinically significant parameters for survival. Therefore, aforementioned host and tumor factors suggest to be significant parameters for the selection of appropriate therapy and prognosis for renal cell carcinoma.
Busan ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Fever ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Urology ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the long-term effect of concept formation training on the performance of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test(WCST) in schizophrenic patients. METHODS: The subjects were 22 schizophrenic patients, who performed poorly on WCST(completing less than 4 categories). The subjects were divided into two groups. The training group(N=11) underwent 3 days of concept formation training after baseline WCST and had post-training test 1 week later. The concept formation training is a stepwise training designed to teach the sorting principles of WCST, using cards different from WCST. Control group(N=11) did not undergo concept formation training and repeated test 1 week after baseline test. Both groups were retested for the 3rd time after almost a year(61.4+/-7.6 weeks later in training group; 35.2+/-12.0 weeks later in control group) RESULTS: The training group made significant improvements in total number correct, total number of errors, perseverative responses, perseverative errors, conceptual level responses, number of categories completed, and trials to complete first category after training. However, only the perseverative response and perseverative errors improved in the follow-up test. In control group, there were no significant differences among 3 testings. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that schizophrenic patients with poor performance in WCST may be able to improve their performance by stepwise concept formation training not only in short-term but also in long-term performance.
Concept Formation* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Schizophrenia ; Wisconsin*

No abstract available.
Acoustic Stimulation* ; Acoustics* ; Female ; Fetal Heart* ; Fetus* ; Heart Rate, Fetal* ; Pregnancy

The surgical methods for the obstruction of nasolacrimal duct include conventional dacryocystorhinostomy and nasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy.The authors followed 52 eyes of 54 patients who had undergone conventional or endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy to compare the surgical success rate, between the group whose nasolacrimal duct was washed with normal saline and the control group without irrigation. Nasal cavity of all patients were examined for the abnormalities such asnasal septal deviation, hypertropy of middle concha, ethmoid sinusitis and nasal polyp.The patients with those abnormalities were excluded. There was significant difference between the two groups, showing better outcome in the group with nasal irrigation. These results suggest that washing NLD after the dacryocystorhinostomy may be effective as an additional therapy to enhance the success rate of operation.
Dacryocystorhinostomy* ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Ethmoid Sinusitis ; Humans ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Lavage ; Nasolacrimal Duct*