It is clearly defined through a number of authoritative studies that the age of menarche influenced by the various combined factors such as nutrition status, physical status, physical growth and development status, socio-economic status, locality, culture, education level, climate, rece heredity etc. In order to obtain statistical data regarding the menarche of Korean school girls, anthors investigated on 4207 middle school girls and 703 woman college students in Seoul and Taegu during the period of September 10 to 30, 1973 and the result are summarized as followings; 1. The rates of menses experience by years were 18.2% in the age group of 12 years girls, 31.9% in 13 years, 64.6% in 14 years, 89.8% in 15 years, 98.1% in 16 years respectively. 2. The average age of menarche for the 2504 school girls who were born during the year of 1957-1961 is 13.4 years with the rang of 9 years to 16 years. And the most frequent age of menarche is 13 years. 3. The average age of menarche for the 703 woman college students who were born during the year of 1950-1954 is 14.3 years with the rang of 9 years to 18 years. And the most frequent age of menarche is 13 years. 4. The apparence of menarche is most common in August (20.7%) for the group who were born during the year of 1957-1961 and most rear in November (4.2%). And it is also most common in August (19.9%) for the group who were born puring the year of 1950-1954 but most rear in June (3.4%).
Climate ; Daegu ; Education ; Female ; Female* ; Growth and Development ; Heredity ; Humans ; Menarche* ; Nutritional Status ; Seoul*

Silicone gel breast implants may induce local(fibrous capsular contracture) or systemic(rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, etc) complications. The exact mechanism of fibrous capsular contracture has not been fully understood. In the present study, we tried to find out the effect of silicone gel on the fibroblast proliferation which has been known as a major contributing factor in fibrous capsular contracture formation. In vitro, activated macrophages are known to secrete monokines which affect fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis. And tumour necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6(IL-6), which were released by macrophages, were reported as potent stimulator of fibroblast proliferation. The goal of this study is to investigate the role of macrophages and tumour necrosis factor-alphaor interleukin-6 in the interaction of fibroblasts and silicone gel. We designed four groups, two experimental and two control, using Institute for Cancer Research(ICR) mouse peritioneal macrophage and silicone gel. For the preparation of the conditioned medium of macrophages, peritoneal macrophages were prepared and cultured for 24 hours on the silicone gel-coated and naked (not coated) surface [silicone gel-macrophage conditioned medium(SCM; experimental group) and normal polystyrene-macrophage conditioned medium(NCM; control group) respectively]. To correct the effect of 10% fetal bovine serum which was included in Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing Institute (RPMI) 1640 medium and draw the effect only by macrophages, the RPMI 1640 medium with 10% fetal bovine serum was cultured by the same method on the silicone gel-coated and naked surface (silicone gel-macrophage free conditioned medium; SFM and normal polystyrene-macrophage free conditioned medium; NFM respectively). Each conditioned medium was added onto NIH 3T3 fibroblasts culture at a final 25% concentration of total culture medium and followed by the cultivation for 24 hours. For antibody neutralizing experiments, each conditioned medium was preincubated with polyclonal rabbit anti-mouse TNF-alpha antibody or polyclonal rat anti-mouse IL-6 antibody for 1 hour and then, conditioned medium with antibody was added to the culture medium of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts by the same method. After 24 hours cultivation, total number of viable fibroblast(cell growth), DNA synthesis and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts with each medium were measured by sulforhodamine B(SRB) assay, 3H-thymidine and 3H-proline incorporation respectively. The results were as follows: 1. In the experiment about the effect of the conditioned medium on the fibroblast activity, the experimental group(SCM), compared with the control group(NCM), showed a significant increase of the cell growth (p<0.01), a significant decrease of DNA synthesis(p<0.001), but no significant difference in the collagen synthesis. 2. In the experiment about the effect of polyclonal rabbit anti-mouse TNF-alpha antibody on the fibroblast activity, after the addition of antibody the experimental group, compared with the control group, showed a significant decrease of the cell growth(p<0.001), a significant increase of DNA synthesis(p<0.01), but no significant difference in the collagen syn thesis. 3. In the experiment about the effect of polyclonal rat anti-mouse IL-6 antibody on the fibroblast activity, after the addition of antibody the experimental group, compared with the control group, showed a significant decrease of the cell growth(p<0.001), a significant increase of DNA synthesis(p<0.0001), but no significant difference in the collagen synthesis. In conclusion, culture supernatants (conditioned medium) of peritoneal macrophages, activated by silicone gel, stimulate the NIH 3T3 fibroblast proliferation. TNF-alpha and IL-6, products of macrophage, are involved in the stimulation of NIH 3T3 fibroblast proliferation in an in vitro condition.
Animals ; Arthritis ; Breast Implants ; Collagen ; Contracture ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; DNA ; Fibroblasts* ; Interleukin-6* ; Macrophages ; Macrophages, Peritoneal* ; Mice ; Monokines ; Necrosis ; Rats ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; Silicone Gels* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

We report a case of male infertility secondary to pituitary apoplexy, which occurred as a sequela of korean hemorrhagic fever. A 32 years old male patient with past history of korean hemorrhagic fever was studied because of infertility and erectile impotence. The size of his testicles were about 8ml in Rt. and Lt. Semen analysis, endocrinologic studies, and brain MRI demonstrated hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism due to panhypopituitarism. The patient was treated with HCG (2,000 IU) administered intramuscularly three times per week for 6 months. After the treatment, improvement of male secondary sex characteristics such as hair growth and testicle size was noted. Promotion of sexual potency and improvement of semen quality were also noted. Following the treatment, his wife conceived after 6 months.
Adult ; Brain ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Hair ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome* ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Male* ; Pituitary Apoplexy* ; Semen Analysis ; Sex Characteristics ; Spouses ; Testis

No abstract available.
Agglutination* ; Diagnosis* ; Female ; Immunoenzyme Techniques* ; Latex* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

We investigated the usage of basic fibroblast growth factor administration to promote the survival of the dopaminergic neurons and behavioral efficacy of fetal mesencephalic grafts in rat parkinsonian models induced by 6-hydroxydopamine. The authors made partial lesioned rat parkinsonian models in which there was destruction of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway & sparing of the mesolimbic pathway. A basic firoblastic growth factor was given continuously by using osmotic minipump into the lateral ventricle of the rat parkinsonian model for 2 weeks. Twelve weeks after grafts, all of the fetal mesencephalic grafts with basic fibroblast growth factor showed enhancement of the survival of dopaminergic neurons as well as activity of tyrosine hydroxylase in the caudate-putamen. Also, they accelerated the recovery in the grafted animals in test of apomorphine-induced rotational behavior when compare with that of the fetal mesencephalic grafts alone. The levels of tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the caudate-putamen were significantly enhanced in the fetal mesencephalic grafts with basic fibroblast growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor alone compared with the control group. Those rats with fetal mesencephalic grafts with/without basic fibroblast growth factor or basic fibroblast growth factor alone showed the recovery in tests of apomorphine-induced rotational behaviors. Our study suggests that the basic fibroblast growth factor may be a neurotrophic factor for dopaminergic neurons, or may act indirectly by inducing the release of a dopaminergic trophic factor from other sources.
Animals ; Apomorphine ; Dopamine ; Dopaminergic Neurons ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; Lateral Ventricles ; Models, Animal* ; Oxidopamine ; Parkinson Disease ; Rats* ; Transplants* ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase

Recurrence after thoracoscopic surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax is a lingering problem, and many intraoperative methods to induce pleural symphysis have been introduced. We analyzed the effects of chemical pleurodesis during thoracoscopic procedures. Between August 2003 and July 2005, 141 patients among indicated surgical treatment for primary spontaneous pneumothorax in two hospitals of our institution allowed this prospective study. The patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups: thoracoscopic procedure only (group A, n=50), thoracoscopic procedure and pleurodesis with dextrose solution (group B, n=49), and thoracoscopic procedure and pleurodesis with talc-dextrose mixed solution (group C, n=42). There was no significant difference in demographic data among the three groups. The two groups that underwent intraoperative pleurodesis had significantly longer postoperative hospital stays (A/B/C: 2.50+/-1.85/4.49+/-2.10/6.00+/-2.58 days; p=0.001) and a higher incidence of postoperative fever (A/B/C: 10.0/22.45/52.38%; chi-square= 21.598, p=0.00). No significant differences were found for recurrence rates or the number of postoperative days until chest tube removal. Therefore, the results of our study indicate that intraoperative chemical pleurodesis gives no additional advantage to surgery alone in deterring recurrence for patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Thus, the use of such scarifying agents in the operating room must be reconsidered.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Glucose/*pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Pleurodesis/*methods ; Pneumothorax/*surgery/*therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Talc/*pharmacology ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/*methods ; Treatment Outcome

The spinal motonucleus of the genitofemoral nerve regulating scrotal temperature can also be related to prenatal and neonatal testicular descent by gubernacular change in rats, and a sexually dimorphic-like bulbocavernosus/dorsolateral motonucleus. There is a hypothesis that neonatal androgen affects these motonuclei, and induces development of sexual organs through neural stimulation. Until now, the accumulation of isotope-labelled androgen and the immuno-reactivity of androgen receptor protein in each sexually-dimorphic spinal motonucleus have been revealed in adult rats but they have not been established in rats during neonatal periods. To investigate the presence of the androgen receptor in spinal sexually-dimorphic motonuclei in the neonatal period, we evaluated the androgen receptor immunoreactivity of these motonuclei. In Sprague-Dawley male rats, the lumbar spinal cords were resected at postnatal days 3, 10 and 30, and stained immunohistochemically using polyclonal antibody of androgen receptor protein. The immunoreactivity of androgen receptor protein was observed in the cells of the genitofemoral motonucleus from the 13th thoracic to the 2nd lumbar spinal cord and the bulbocavernosus/dorsolateral motonucleus was observed from the 4th to 5th lumbar spinal cord in all age groups. The proportional areas of both motonuclei at days 3 and 10 on cross-section were larger than at day 30. The motonuclei at days 3 and 10 were similar in all age groups. With the above results, the presence of androgen receptor protein was confirmed in the genitofemoral and bulbocavernosus/dorsolateral motonucleus from neonate to day 30. The larger proportional area of these motonuclei in neonates may indicate an active role for these motonuclei during the neonatal period. Although the immunoreactivity does not directly imply the presence of a functional receptor, neonatal androgen could be responsible for the development of sexual organs through the spinal motonucleus.
Animal ; Animals, Newborn ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Androgen/immunology ; Receptors, Androgen/analysis* ; Sex Characteristics* ; Spinal Cord/chemistry*

The spinal motonucleus of genitofemoral nerve regulating scrotal temperature also can be related to prenatal and neonatal testicular descent by gubernacular change in rats, and sexually dimorphic like bulbocavernosus/dorsolateral motonucleus. There is a hypothesis that neonatal androgen affects these motonuclei, and induce development of sexual organ through neural stimulation. Until now, the accumulation of isotope labeled androgen and immunoreactivity of androgen receptor protein in each sexually dimorphic spinal motonucleus have been revealed in adult rats but not been established in rats of neonatal periods. To investigate the presence of the androgen receptor in spinal sexually dimorphic motonuclei in neonatal period, we evaluated the androgen receptor immunoreactivity of these motonuclei. In Sprague-Dawley male rats, the lumbar spinal cords were resected according to cord level by laminectomy under dissecting microscope after perform aldehyde perfusion fixation at postnatal day3 (n=6), 10 (n=7) and 30 (n =6). The resected spinal cords were serially sectioned 50 um thick by vibratome, and stained immunohistochemically using polyclonal antibody of androgen receptor protein. The immunoreactivity of androgen receptor protein was observed in the cells of genitofemoral motonucleus from the thirteenth thoracic to the second lumbar spinal cord and bulbocavernosus/ dorsolateral motonucleus was observed from the 4th to 5th lumbar spinal cord at all age groups. The proportional areas of both motonuclei of day 3 and 10 on cross section were larger than that of day 30. The motonuclei of day 3 and 10 were more laterally located, compared to that of day 30. The immunostaining densities were similar in all age groups. With the above results, the presence of androgen receptor protein was confirmed in the genitofemoral and bulbocavernosus/ dorsolateral motonucleus from neonate to day 30. The larger proportional area of these motonuclei in neonates may indicate active role of these motonuclei during neonatal period. Although the immunoreactivity does not directly imply the presence of functional receptor, neonatal androgen could be responsible for the development of sexual organ through the spinal motonucleus.
Adult ; Animals ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Laminectomy ; Male* ; Perfusion ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Androgen* ; Spinal Cord

BACKGROUND: We have hypothesized that, if a low resistant gravity-flow membrane oxygenator is used, then the twin blood sacs of TPLS can be located at downstream of the membrane oxyenator, which may double the pulse rate at a given pump rate and increase the pump output. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal configuration for the ECLS circuits by using the concept of pulse energy and pump output. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Animals were randomly assigned to 2 groups in a total cardiopulmonary bypass model. In the serial group, a conventional membrane oxygenator was located between the twin blood sacs. In the parallel group, the twin blood sacs were placed downstream of the gravity-flow membrane oxygenator. Energy equivalent pressure (EEP) and pump output were collected at pump-setting rates of 30, 40, and 50 BPM. RESULT: At the given pump-setting rate, the pulse rate was doubled in the parallel group. Percent changes of mean arterial pressure to EEP were 13.0+/-1.7, 12.0+/-1.9 and 7.6+/-0.9% in the parallel group, and 22.5+/-2.4, 23.2+/-1.9, and 21.8+/-1.4% in the serial group at 30, 40, and 50 BPM of pump-setting rates. Pump output was higher in the parallel circuit at 40 and 50 BPM of pump-setting rates (3.1+/-0.2, 3.7+/-0.2 L/min vs. 2.2+/-0.1 and 2.5+/-0.1 L/min, respectively, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Either parallel or serial circuit configuration of the ECLS generates effective pulsatility. As for the pump out, the parallel circuit configuration provides higher flow than the serial circuit configuration.
Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Life Support Systems* ; Membranes ; Oxygenators, Membrane

Deep infection is the most serious complication of total hip arthroplasty with difficulty to treat and occasionally results into catastrophic consequences. The treatment methods are antibiotics, incision & drainage of the hip, debridement & modified Girdlestone resection arthroplasty, one stage revision to total hip arthroplasty, two stage revision and hip disarticulation. The purpose of this report is to consider the treatment of the infected total hip arthroplasty. Since 1979, we have treated 12 cases of infected arthroplasty including 6 cases from other hopital. Duration of interval between primary hip arthroplasty and diagnosis of infection were average 42,4 months(minimum 2 months to maximum 16 years). The results were as follows; 1. The incidence rate of the infected total hip arthroplasty was 1.3%. 2. By Fitzgerald classification, 2 cases were in acute stage, 6 cases in delayed stage and 4 cases in late stage. 3. The causative organisms were coagulase negative Staphylococcus aureus in 6 cases, Staphylococcus hemolyticus in 2 cases, Pseudomonas in 1 case and negative culture in 3 cases. 4. Increased uptake on Bone Scan in all 12 cases and increased ESR ranged from 28mm/hr to 82mm/hr. 5. Our treatment methods were secondary revision to total hip arthroplasty with cement bead insertion in 4 cases, primary revision in 1 case, incision & drainage of hip in 1 case, debridement & modified Girdlestone resection arthroplasty in 2 cases and hip disarticulation in 2 cases. And the rest 2 cases have been followed up after modified Girdlestone resection arthroplasty because of the remained infection. In our experience, two stage revision to total hip arthroplasty with antibiotics mixed cement bead was more useful in the treatment of the infected total hip arthroplasty.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Classification ; Coagulase ; Debridement ; Diagnosis ; Disarticulation ; Drainage ; Hip ; Incidence ; Pseudomonas ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus