PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of CarnitilR (acetylcarnitine, Hanmi, Korea) therapy in idiopathic oligoasthenospermic men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four subfertile men with abnormal semen parameters were treated between March, 2003 and March, 2004 with 3 g of CarnitilR daily for 3 months. Changes in semen parameters were evaluated 3 months after this therapy. RESULTS: The mean age was 34.2 years and the mean follow-up duration was 3.7 months. In asthenospemic patients (n=28), semen analysis before and after CarnitilR treatment showed an increase in volume (2.64+/-1.65 ml vs. 3.10+/-1.60 ml), motility (35.1+/-17.7% vs. 45.9+/-20.4%) and viability (51.4+/-20.3% vs. 59.3+/-13.6%) respectively. In oligoasthenospermic patients (n=16), semen analysis before and after CarnitilR treatment showed an increase in sperm count (10.7+/-54.4 million/ml vs. 38.4+/-32.5 million/ml) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that in idiopathic oligoasthenospermic men the empirical medical therapy with acetylcarnitine may be considered as primary treatment.
Acetylcarnitine* ; Carnitine ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count

No Abstract Available.
Allografts* ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament*

Temporal and spatial expression of bmp-2 and bmp-4 was investigated in distraction osteogenesis and fracture healing models in order to delineate their roles in these new hone formation processes. Distraction osteogenesis was performed on the left tihia diaphyses of Sprague-Dawley rats, and was confirmed by serial radiographs and histologicaJ examination. Total RNA was isolated from the distraction gaps and fracture sites sequentially until the postoperative eighth week, and mRNA expression was quantitated hy competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) using specific primers for bmp-2 and bmp-4. In-situ hybridization was performed on the undemineralized tissue section of distraction osteogenesis group. Both bum-2 and bmp-4 mRNA expression increased during distraction osteogenesis and fracture healing. Increase in bmp-2 mRNA expression was more marked and prolonged in distraction osteogenesis compared with fracture healing, whereas bmp-4 mRNA expression was persistently increased in both groups. In-situ hybridization study revealed that hoth bmp-2 and bmp-4 were expressed at eariy osteohlasts producing osteoid, trabeculae-lining osteoblasts and osteocytes of regenerate bone. Enhanced new bone formation in distraction osteogenesis is associated with prolonged and increased expression of BMPs, especially BMP-2. lnspite of their structural similarity, BMP-2 and BMP-4 appear to have their distinct roles in new hone formation.
Bone Morphogenetic Proteins* ; Diaphyses ; Fracture Healing* ; Osteoblasts ; Osteocytes ; Osteogenesis ; Osteogenesis, Distraction* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger*

No abstract available.
Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis*

To assess the effectiveness of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with endorectal surface coil in the ataging of carcinoma of the uterine cervix with emphasis on parametrial involvement. Thirty women with clinically and radiographically proven carcinoma of the uterine cervix were initially included for this study, but thirteen patients were excluded since the stages of tumors wore beyond stage IIa. CT and MR findings of the remaining seventeen patients were performed at Cheil General Hospital and compared a1ong with clinical findings with the special emphasis on the parametrial involvement by the tumor. Staging was assessed by CT and MRI, and the results were compared with the pathologic staging. Radiea1 abdominal hysterectomy with the pelvic and paraaortic lymphnode dissection was done to all sewenteen patients. The staging made primarily by CT and MRI was either stsge 1 or Ila, but MR images with endorectal surface coil was superior to CT in the visualization of depth of tumor infiltration, especially parametrial involvement. The determination of the depth of the tumor made by MR images showed statistically significant correlation with histologic evaluation(R =0.768, p<0.01). The accuracy rate for the evaluation of the parametrial invo1vement was 82.3% far CT and 94.1% for MRI with endorectal surface coil. The overall accuracy rate for tumor staging was 70.5% for clinical, 58.8% for CT and 82.3% for MR evaluation. The accurecy rate in evaluation of the pelvic and paraaortic lymphnode was 88.2% for CT, but the evaluation done by MRl was not adequate due to small FOV(field of view). In assessment of The steging of careinoma of the uterine cervlx, MR images with endorectal surface coil was superior to CT, especially in the evaluation of the parametrial involvement.
Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neoplasm Staging

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Pressure Ulcer*

Purpose: The object of this study was to attempt to assess the effects of microsurgical varicocelectomy in subclinical oligospermic or asthenospermic patients. Materials and Methods: Fourteen oligospermic or asthenospermic patients, with subclinical varicocele, were diagnosed by color Doppler ultrasound, between October 2001 and March 2004. All patients underwent an inguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy. Semen analyses were performed 4 months later, and compared with the preoperative data. Results: The mean patient and spouse ages were 31.9+/-2.09 (range 29 to 36) and 29.9+/-1.85 (range 27 to 33) years, respectively. Comparison of the semen parameter before and after surgery revealed significant improvement of the sperm count. The mean sperm count increased from 33.09+/-31.96 to 60.74+/-56.27 million/ml (p<0.05). There were no significant statistical differences in the pH, motility, morphology and viability on the semen analysis. 4 of the 14 patients achieved spontaneous pregnancy (28%) after 7 to 10 months, and 4 achieved pregnancy, with in vitro fertilization (28%), 10 to 30 months later. Conclusions: A microsurgical varicocelectomy in oligospermic or asthenospermic patients, with subclinical varicocele, significantly increased their sperm count. In infertile couples, with no specific problem other than subclinical varicocele, it is worth while performing a microsurgical varicocelectomy.
Family Characteristics ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; Spouses ; Ultrasonography ; Varicocele*

The goal of cleft lip surgery is to reconstruct normal shape of the lip. To acomplish this goal, various operative method were contrived and concept of the method decided the shape of reconstructed lips. According to the operative result, some operative methods were disappeared or have been developed with a little modifiation. Traditional Millard's rotation-advancement method for unilateral cleft lip patients is largely accepted and developed as proper method for acquiring these functional and anatomic purposes. As a trial for this development, Mulliken add some modifications. He uses exaggerated high rotation incision and it lengthens into midcolumella without backcut. Also he dosen't steal from alar base or lateral lip for vertical height. C-flap is used to lengthen the affected columella and upper lip. The isolated orbicularis oris muscle is coaptated each other for more functional result. With supraperichondral dissection of alar cartilage and transpositioning of caudal septum, he performs synchronous repair of cleft lips, nose and sometimes alveolus. It is still debated when is most suitable age for surgical correction of nasal deformity of cleft lip patients. Done at the time of primary lip repair, there are both some apprehension and inducement. The former are based on technical difficulties due to shortage and fragility of neonatal tissue and possibility of progressive deformities with growing because of iatrogenic injuries to the alar cartilages. But te latter is rationalized because early reposition of deformed nasal cartilage in proper position would induce more natural growth of nasal structures. Some long-term follow up reports reveal the early operation innocent of any growth deterioration. Mulliken treats his cleft lip patient for separated lip and nasal deformities with single operation, and does gingiovoperiosteal alveoloplasty at the same time if necessary. He uses Latham appliance from 4 to 6 week after birth in case of severly collapsed lateral alveolar segment or wide alvolar gap, and perform the definitive opertation at the age of 4 to 6 months. I use lip adhension method to correct more than 10 mm alveolar gap without severe collapse of lateral alveolar segment, but if lateral segment was severely collapsed and away from alvolar arch, I apply the Latham appliance somewhat modificate from original type, which has a metal ring fastened at the front limb of appliance for rubber banding to coaptate easily. I have experienced repair of cleft lip by Mulliken's concept with some modification of my own to 44 cases of unilateral cleft lip patients and conclude that it was very flexible method. Doing with synchonous repair of cleft lip nose, we could get harmonious lip and nose with symmetric nostril sill, cupid's bow and red line. Columella was lengthened primarily. Normal growth of nose was anticipated by anatomic repositioning of alar septal cartilage.
Alveoloplasty ; Cartilage ; Cleft Lip* ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lip ; Nasal Cartilages ; Nose ; Parturition ; Rubber

No abstract available.
Glomus Tumor*