PURPOSE: Because cryptorchid testes are known to undergo histopathologic changes affecting development, maturation, and tertility, early surgical correction is usually recommended. However there are differing opinions concerning whether retractile testes are affected by similar changes and also whether there is a need for surgical treatment. We aimed to assess the histopathologic changes in retractile testis by studying the changes in testes artificially placed back in the abdomen after they have descended to scrotum in experimental rat models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups; a control group(controls), prepubertal ascent group (P) in which testis were placed back intraabdominally by bilateral inguinal canal obstruction at 6 weeks, a neonatal group(N) in which intraabdminal testis was induced by bilateral inguinal canal obstruction at birth. The relative weight of the testis, morphology of the seminiferous tubules including Leydig cells, tubular degeneration phase(TDP), spermatogonia per tubules(S/T), and Sertoli cell index (SCI) of these three groups were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: The relative weight of testis was significantly decreased in the group of N(0.0016+/-0.001) and P(0.0015+/-0.0002) compared to controls(0.0037+/-0.0002) (p<0.05). The S/T value was also decreased in P(2.05+/-18.2) and N(73.2+/-32.4) when compared to controls (360.2+/-21.3). Similar changes were observed in SCI of both P(64.5+/-6.4) and N (91.2+/-14.2) when compared to controls (227.9+/-31.1). Only minority of N and P showed higher TDP values. However, although statistically insignificant, TDP was increased in both P and N when compared to controls. The Leydig cells in N and P showed cellular distortion and hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrate that prepubertal ascent, similar to that of innate cryptorchid testis, also can induce histopathologic changes such as changes in testicular seminiferous tubule, decrease in the S/T value and decrease in SCI value. Our findings supports that hypothesis that retractile testis may cause histological damage thus surgical correction may also be warranted similar to in case of genuine cryptorchism.
Abdomen* ; Animals ; Cryptorchidism ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Inguinal Canal ; Leydig Cells ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Models, Theoretical ; Parturition ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Scrotum ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Spermatogonia ; Testis*

The Mayer-Rokitansky-K ster-Hauser syndrome represents a spectrum of m llerian anomalies, including vaginal agenesis with or without renal anomalies, in genotypically and phenotypically normal female subjects with normal endocrine status. We experienced a case of this anomaly which combined with unilateral renal agenesis and pelvic cystic mass in child.
Child* ; Female ; Humans

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a genetic disorder of the melanin pigment system in which melanin synthesis is reduced or absent in the skin, hair, and eyes. OCA is classified into two major types, and tyrosinase-related OCA can be produced by mutations of the structural gene for tyrosinase enzyme (TYR gene). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the segregation of mutant alleles of the TYR gene in tyrosinase-negative and tyrosinase-positive Korean OCA patients and families. METHODS: We amplified exon I, II, and III of the TYR gene of Korean OCA patients and their families by polymerase chain reactions (PCR), and analyzed the mutations by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in exon I and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analyses in exon II and exon III. RESULTS: Two tyrosinase-negative cases showed mutations in exon I. Four tyrosinase-nega-tive cases and one tyrosinase-positive case showed mutations in exon II, and one tyrosinase-neg- ative case showed mutations in exon III. In summary, we found three kinds of mutation in four tyrosinase-negative OCA patients and one tyrsinase-positive OCA patient. CONCLUSIONS: RFLP and SSCP analysis can provide a basis for a rapid and sensitive screening system to detect TYR gene mutations of Korean OCA patients and their families.
Albinism, Oculocutaneous* ; Alleles ; Exons ; Hair ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Melanins ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Skin

No abstract available.
Kidney* ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive*

BACKGROUND: The severity of several chronic inflammatory diseases was reported to be associated with polymorphism of the IL-1 receptor antagonist gene(IL-lrn). OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to study the polymorphism of the IL-1rn in vitiligo and in the normal Korean population. METHODS: Thirty one cases of vitiligo and seventy nine normal Koreans as control were studied for the polymorphism of IL-1 rn. RESULTS: The frequency of allele 2 of the IL- I rn in 31 patients with vitiligo was compared with that of the 79 healthy controls. The frequency of allele 2 was 1.6% in vitiligo patients and 3.8% in the normal controls. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in the frequency of allele 2 between the vitiligo patients and normal controls.
Alleles ; Humans ; Interleukin-1* ; Vitiligo*

BACKGROUND: The importance of the determination of cell viability has prompted the development of several assays of viability that utilize the exclusion of certain dyes by viable cell membranes. Recently, flow cytometry has been adapted to estimate cell viability by using fluorescent dye which is excluded by living cells on the basis of altered dead cell properties. OBJECTIVE: We have developed a flow Cytometric method for measuring cell viability after staining with propidium iodide (PI) and have compared it with the classical colorimetric method, MTT assay, which is currently widely used in cytotoxicity assays in the research field. METHODS: We performed flow cytometry and MTT assay for the comparison of the sensitivity of the assessment of cell viability. RESULTS: Decrease of cell viability was measured by flow cytometry with the addition of as little as 0.002% Triton-X 100 in comparison to MTT assay which could only reveal a similar decrease of cell viability with the new method to 0.008% Triton-X 100. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate this new method to be more sensitive and simple for the assessment of cell viability.
Cell Membrane ; Cell Survival* ; Coloring Agents ; Flow Cytometry ; Methods* ; Propidium*

PURPOSE: Various techniques for ureteral reimplantation have been described for correction of vesicoureteral reflux. We evaluated the results of extravesical ureteral reimplantation using detrusorrhaphy techniques in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1999 to July 2000 we retrospectively reviewed the records of 35 children (53 ureters) who underwent ureteral reimplantation using detrusorrhaphy techniques for correction of primary vesicoureteral reflux. RESULTS: There were 21 male and 14 female patients. The initial reflux grades were I, II, III, IV and V in 4, 8, 13, 20 and 8 ureters, respectively. This surgery was successful initially in 51 (96.2%) in 53 ureters, as confirmed by a normal voiding cystourethrogram 6 months postoperatively. Of the 53 ureters vesicoureteral reflux persisted in 2 ureters, contralateral reflux developed in 2 ureters, which was treated conservatively. No ureteral obstruction developed, but urinary tract infection developed in 2 children postoperatively. Urinary retention developed in 2 children with successful recovery after urethral catheter drainage of 7 days. The duration of hospitalization ranged from 2 to 4 days (2.6 days). CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the initial results the detrusorrhaphy technique was successful as other ureteral eimplantation techniques. Also it was simple to perform, reproducible and associated with low morbidity. So far it required minimal hospital stay. These results should encourage the use of this technique when indicated to correct vesicoureteral reflux in children.
Child ; Drainage ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Replantation ; Retrospective Studies ; Ureter ; Ureteral Obstruction ; Urinary Catheters ; Urinary Retention ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux*

The incidence of contralateral reflux after unilateral reimplantation in children with primary unilateral vesicoureteral reflux(VUR) is reported to be 0.8-32%. We evaluated the characteristics of contralateral reflux after endoscopic or open surgical correction of primary unilateral VUR in children. 30 children who underwent unilateral reimplantation by Paquin (25pts) and submucosal Macroplastique injection(5pts) were evaluated. The association between postoperative contralateral reflux and age, sex, ipsilateral implant side, postoperative urinary tract infection, and surgical method were evaluated. There were 18 male and 12 female patients. Initial reflux was observed in the right in 18 and 12 in left. The initial reflux grades were II, III, IV, and V in 2, 11, 14, and 3 patients, respectively. Postoperative urinary tract infection was observed in 4 patients of whom 1 had contralateral reflux. In conclusion, there was no single factor that could predict the development of contralateral reflux after unilateral correction of unilateral primary VUR. Furthermore, the fact that contralateral reflux occurred even after submucosal Macroplastique injection suggests that the method of surgery is not related to the subsequent development of contralateral reflux.
Child* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Male ; Replantation ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux*