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

OBJECTIVE: SCC-Ag(Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen) is a tumor marker for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. It has shown that the SCC-Ag was well related with the response of cancer therapy and course of cervical cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the presence of pelvic lymph node metstasis can be predicted by the measurement of the preoperative SCC-Ag levels in the patients with early staged squamous cell carcinoma of cervix. METHODS: The preoperative serum SCC-Ag levels were measured in 45 patients with stage I-II squamous cell carcinoma of cervix undergoing radical hysterectomy from September 1995 to December 1997. The serum SCC-Ag levels were analyzed for the clinicopathologic characteristics and other prognostic factors using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The serum SCC-Ag levels of the patients exhibited pelvic lymph node metastasis were above 4.8ng/ml. An elevated preoperative serum SCC-Ag level, and tumor size were independent predictors for the presence of lymph node metastasis(p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The determination of the preoperative serum SCC-Ag levels provides a new prognostic factor in early staged cervical cancer.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Head*

No abstract available.
Diazepam* ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives* ; Midazolam* ; Surgery, Plastic*

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Hernia* ; Humans

PURPOSE: We investigated the prevalence of premature ejaculation and knowledge of the disease in young and middle-aged men in Busan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were 500 men aged from 21 to 49 years(average 37.7 years) who had no history of erectile dysfunction and had a stable sexual partner. The numbers of responders in their third, fourth, and fifth decades were 36, 299, and 165, respectively. All interviews were performed by the same urologic resident. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions in three domains covering the prevalence and severity of premature ejaculation, its influence on sexual life, and therapy. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of premature ejaculation was 41.0% (205/500), being highest in younger men (50.0% in the third decade [18/36], 45.8% in the fourth decade [137/299], and 30.3% in the fifth decade [50/165]). Men saying they "always or almost always" or "usually" had the condition accounted for 2.0% (10 men) of the total study population, being 0 in the third decade, 2.0% (6 men) in fourth decade and 2.4% (4 men) in fifth decade. The man himself and his sexual partner complained of more than moderate discomfort in 29 cases (14.1%) and 22 cases (10.7%), respectively. Only three men (1.4%) had received treatment for premature ejaculation, but the numbers of men who wished to try medical or surgical treatment were 32 (66.7%) and 16 (33.3%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although the prevalence of premature ejaculation is high in young and middle aged men in Busan, it has not been regarded as sexual dysfunction for the most part, and the treatment rate is low. We suggest that public education about the pathophysiology and management of premature ejaculation is required.
Busan* ; Education ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Premature Ejaculation* ; Prevalence* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sexual Partners

No abstract available.
Gastric Outlet Obstruction*

BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic scars and keloids have been regarded as representative of the proliferative change of the connective tissue of the dermis. Clinically, postburn and surgical scars show a smooth, shiny, erythematous appearance at an early stage. It is readily conceivable that, in such scars, changes may take place not only in the dermis but also in the epidermis and, possibly in the stratum corneum (SC). However, in contrast to the tremendous number of studies of scars on the dermis, those studies focusing on the epidermis and the SC have been scarce. OBJECTIVE: We have focused on the function of the SC covering the post-burn scar tissue and keloids. METHODS: Using noninvasive bioengineering measurements of functional properties of the SC, such as transepidermal water loss(TEWL), we evaluated the SC barrier function in various types of healing wounds, such as early erythematous lesion, hypertrophic scar, keloid, healed atrophic scar, scar occurring at the recipient site of the skin grafts and the adjacent normal appearing skin for control. RESULTS: 1. The TEWL values were 14.9+/-7.3 in early erythematous lesions, 13.2+/-7.5 in hypertrophic scars, 10.2+/-5.8 in keloids, 5.6+/-1.3 in healed atrophic scars, 6.9+/-4.3 in scars occurring at the recipient site of the skin grafts. Significantly increased TEWL values were found in all individual lesions(p>0.01) except for the scars occurring at the recipient site of the skin grafts(p<0.05) compared with the corresponding normal control skin. 2. When we randomly compared early erythematous lesions, hypertrophic scars, kelids, atrophic
Bioengineering ; Cicatrix ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic* ; Connective Tissue ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Keloid* ; Skin* ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND : Borame hospital nuns geriatric wards with 120 beds (40 beds for patients in Dept. of Internal Medicine, 40 for patients in Dept. of Orthopedics 40 for patients in Dept. of Neurology) from December 1996. We studied clinical characteristics of admissions to acute geriatric wards in Borame hospital in order to assess current status of geriatric wards in Korea. METHODS : 334 patients admitted from December 1996 to May 1997 were studied. By reviewing clinical records of these patients, we studied clinical characteristics of patients in geriatric wards retrospectively. RESULTS : 1) Age distribution: 8.6% of patients were over 85 years old. 16.4% of patients were between age of 80-84. 20.0% between 75-79, 31.3% between 70-74, 26.3% between 65-69, respectively. 2) Disease: 43% of patients have single disease, 67% of patients have multiple disease(23% of patients with 2 disease, 25% with 3 disease, 6% with 4 disease, 3% with over 5 disease respectively). 3) Mortality rate :Total mortality rates were 4.3% with 6.1% of patients in Internal medicine, 3.2% of patients in Neurology. These rates were much higher compared with mortality rates of 2.4% in general wards but similar to those (6.7%) in general wards in Internal medicine. 4) Causes of admission: Malignancies were most common causes of admissions in males, and then cerebrovascular diseases, infectious diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, in order. Musculoskeletal diseases were most common causes, and then diabetes mellitus, infectious diseases, cerebrovascular diseases. CONCLUSION : The elderly patients tend to have multiple diseases, longer hospital stays and higher mortality rates compared with younger patients in general wards. but differences of hospital stays and mortality rates are less than be expected.
Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Communicable Diseases ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Mortality ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Neurology ; Orthopedics ; Patients' Rooms ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.