OBJECTIVE: To assess the scavenging effect of carnitine derivatives on oxidative damage to sperm during sperm processing cryopreservation and thawing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fresh semen samples from 20 normal healthy volunteers were collected by masturbation after at least 48 hours abstinence. After liquefaction of semen samples at room temperature, the specimens were diluted with sperm wash media (Ham's F-10, Life technologics) to a uniform density of 20x106/ml. L-carnitine or acetylcarnitine were added with various concentration of 0 micrometer, 10 micrometer, 30 micrometer in semen sample or cryoprotectant. All specimens were cryopreservated at -196degrees C LN2 for 3 days. Sperm motility, vitality, fertilizing capacity, reactive oxygen species formation and the level of lipid peroxidation were analyzed by computer assisted semen analyzer, eosin-nigrosin stain, hypo-osmotic swelling test, chemiluminescence and thiobarbituric acid method, respectively, during sperm processing, cryopreservation and thawing. RESULTS: The sperm motility was only increased in proportion to the concentration of acetylcarnitine with no statistical significance (p>0.05). The sperm vitality was also significantly improved in proportion to the concentration of acetylcarnitine with statistical significance (p<0.05). The sperm fertilizing capacity was significantly increased in proportion to the concentration of L-carnitine and acetylcarnitine and reactive oxygen species generation and lipid peroxidation were significantly decreased with same fashion(p<0.05). On comparison of effects between L-carnitine and acetylcarnitine, acetylcarnitine was superior to L-carnitine on the improvement of sperm motility and vitality as well as the suppression of reactive oxygen species generation and lipid peroxidation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that carnitine derivatives have a scavenging effect against oxidative damages during sperm processing, cryopreservation and thawing. Therefore, carnitine derivatives may be useful as an oral antioxidant in patients with male infertility due to increased ROS generation.
Acetylcarnitine* ; Carnitine* ; Cryopreservation ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Luminescence ; Male ; Masturbation ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Semen ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa*

BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia (patterned baldness) occurs in both sexes showing different clinical features respectively. In men the hait thinning develops at about 20 years of age with a receding anterior hair line. In women it develops at about 30 years of age but the anterior hair liae is kept intact. Recently we have noticed female pattern baldness in young adult females in their early twenties. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical and laboratory features of female patients with early onset patterned alopecia and to assess their therapeutic results. METHOD: Twenty-five cases of female pattern baldness who sought medical treatment for hair thinning before the age of 25 were examined for their clinical, laboratorial and treatment results. RESULTS: 1. 22.2 years was the average age at which the first medical care was sought and their onset of noticeable hair thinning was on average 18.3 years of age. 2. Aceording to Ludwigs classification, there were 76%(19 cases) with type I alopecia and 24%(6 cases) wit type II. Type III was not found. 3. A family history of patterned alopecia was seen in 56% of the first degree relatives. 4. Associated diseases were as follows: Seborrheic dermatitis(11 cases), hirsutism(9 cases), acne vulgaris(5 cases), menstrual irregularity(5 cases) and one case of each of polycystic ovarian disease, diabetes melitus and pulmonary tuberculosis. 5. Mild to moderate hirsutism was seen in 9(36%) cases in various anatomical locations. The most frequent location was in the linea alba area (6 cases), which was followed by the extremities and upper lip. 6. Serum iron and femtin levels were lower than the normal range in 10 cases(40%) and in 15 cases(60%) respectively, though hemoglobin levels were all normal. 7. Serum total testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate(DHEAS) levels were increased in 52.1% and 52% patients respectively, compared to the normal range in Korean women. 8. In 12 cases who could be followed up for longer than 3 months, 11(90.2%) cases showed improvement in their hair volume on medical treatment. CONCLUSION: Androgenetic alopecia of females can occur as early as in males. The clinical and laboratory findings of such early female androgenetic alopecia were reported in 25 cases alongside their therapeutic outcomes.
Acne Vulgaris ; Alopecia* ; Classification ; Dehydroepiandrosterone ; Extremities ; Female* ; Hair ; Hirsutism ; Humans ; Iron ; Lip ; Male ; Ovarian Diseases ; Reference Values ; Testosterone ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Young Adult

The Hahn double 15 hue test is used for social and vacational aptitude test to separate strongly and mildly affected subjects among the colour vision defective persons, detected using colour vision test. However, the assessment of colour vision defect type and severity is based on the hue confusions which are represented diagrammatically on Hahn double 15 hue score sheet, this qualitative assessment of the test results have not provide a numerical score suitable for mathematical analysis. This paper presented a new proposal for quantitatively scoring the Hahn double 15 hue test based on those hue confusions made by the subject. With this program large numbers of double 15 hue test results can be processed easily and rapidly, and program helps to compare the severity of specific type colour vision defect and monitor acquired colour vision defect which has various disease process, continuously.
Aptitude Tests ; Humans ; Research Design* ; Vision Tests

No abstract available.
Cadaver* ; Fascia Lata* ; Fascia*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the changes to postural sway velocity and trunk repositioning errors and the frequency of falls in stroke patients. METHODS: Fifty-five stroke patients, divided into three groups (no falls group: 20, one fall group: 19, repeated falls group: 16), stood quietly with eyes open and closed on a force platform while postural sway velocity was quantified by the center of pressure measures. Trunk repositioning errors were measured in standing while the subjects performed forward flexion movements. RESULTS: We found a significant difference between the groups for postural sway velocity in medial-lateral and anterior-posterior directions with eyes open and closed (P<0.05). With the eyes closed, there were significant differences between the three groups in the postural sway velocity (P<0.05) and the trunk repositioning errors changed significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that the increase in falls may increase visual dependence for postural control velocity and trunk repositioning errors. These results may be useful in balance training to prevent falls in stroke survivors.
Eye ; Humans ; Stroke ; Survivors

OBJECTIVE: To examine a normal range for nuchal translucency thickness between 9 and 14 weeks' gestation in normal fetuses. METHODS: Nuchal translucency was measured prospectively in 124 fetuses between 9 and 14 weeks' gestation resulted in normal pregnancy outcome. The nuchal translucency measurement was expressed as the median and the 5th, 25th, 75th, and 95th percentiles according to complete weeks of gestation based on ultrasound measurement. RESULTS: The median nuchal translucency thickness was 1.8 mm at 9 weeks' gestation and it declined to 1.6 mm at 10 weeks. But the median thickness increased from 1.95 mm at 11 weeks to 2.3 mm at 12 weeks, after which it slightly declined to 2.25 mm at 13 weeks. And then it increased to 2.5 mm at 14 weeks. A nuchal translucency thickness greater than 2.5 mm was not found at 9 and 10 weeks' gestation, but found in 21.8% of fetuses from 11 weeks to 14 weeks. CONCLUSION: In normal fetuses, there is a physiologic variation in the thickness of nuchal translucency between 9 and 14 weeks' gestation. The calculation of risk for trisomies based on this thickness should take this variation into account. The adoption of a gestational age-dependent cutoff point, based on the deviation of a given measurement from the median, may reduce the invasive procedure for karyotyping. And this study suggest that if the nuchal translucency measurement is greater than 2.5 mm before 10 weeks, it may advise the karyotyping.
Female ; Fetus* ; Karyotyping ; Nuchal Translucency Measurement* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Prospective Studies ; Reference Values ; Trisomy ; Ultrasonography

Warfarin has its origin as a rat poison and has become one of the widely used anticoagulant drugs to prevent thrombosis and embolism. Many medications, foods and vegetables can interact with warfarin and affect its blood thinning effect in the body. The antibiotic, moxifloxacin official product monograph indicated no interaction with concomitant warfarin treatment as this fourth generation synthetic fluoroquinolone antibiotic does not share the same cytochrome P450 system metabolism pathway with warfarin. However, we report a case of increased anticoagulant activity in a patient treated with moxifloxacin and warfarin causing prolonged hospital stay.

Radiation exposure dose for patients during brain CT scan with General Electric C.T./T.8800 was measured using CaF. :Mn thermoluminescent dosimeter chips. The skin dose in single slice scan was 1.26±0.1 0 rad, and that in 9 slice scan was 2.06±0.16 rad. So the ratio was 1.63. The surface dose in profile along axial distance in multiple slice scan was also measured, and was found to be low at the junction of 2 slices. The lens dose in multiple slice scan was 0.27±0.05 rad , too small to induce any pathologic condition. As noted from the above data, the radiation exposure dose during CT scanning is not high compared with other radiologic examinations.
Brain ; Humans ; Radiation Exposure ; Skin ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A total 12 cases of tuberculous spondylitis of thoracic spine had been treated by anterior decompression and interbody fusion through extrapleural approach from March, 1979 to June, 1980. In this study, six impending or complete paraplegics were included. Prognosis of paraplegia depends on its grade, duration and local pathology. Extrapleural approach seems to offer the following advantages over all the other ones; lesser risk, no Iimitation of surgical fleid, less chance of contaminating pleural cavity, less postoperative complications, especially indicated for the elderly paraplegics of Incomplete or complete type and less cumbersome Immediate postoperative care.
Aged ; Decompression ; Humans ; Paraplegia ; Pathology ; Pleural Cavity ; Postoperative Care ; Postoperative Complications ; Prognosis ; Spine ; Spondylitis ; Tuberculosis, Spinal

Dislocation of index metacarpophalangeal joint is complex and usually cannot be reduced by closed method. It is a relatively rare injury and there are no widely published studies on its management. We have experienced a case combined with osteochondral fracture of the dorsoulnar aspect of metacarpal head and reduced it using extensor tendon splitting simplified technique with good results. This technique is seemed te be simpler and safer than volar approach described by Kaplan.
Dislocations ; Head ; Metacarpophalangeal Joint ; Methods ; Tendons