No abstract available.
Obesity*

In order to assess the efficiency of Percoll gradient centrifugation(PGC) as a method of sperm selection, we have examined morphological characteristics of spermatozoa from 40 teratozoospermic patients attending the Infertility Clinic of Inchon Gil Gerneral Hospital. Patients were divided into three groups according to percentage normal morphology in the fresh sample : group A(n=5), < 5% normal morphology : group B(n=21), 5~14% normal morphology : and group C(n=14), > 14% normal morphology. Morphology slides were perpared using Diff-Quik staining techniques and evaulated by Kruger strict criteria, under oil immersion at a magnification of X 1000, specific defects, head, neck and tail were assesed individualy. The results were as follows. 1. Following PGC, sperm samples with enhanced morphology were recovered for all groups. 2. For group A, PGC did not select a sample with significantly improved morphological characteristics. 3. Usually, sperm defects affected by PGC was head and neck. No significant difference was found for tail abnormality. In conclusion, Percoll gradient centrifugation is an efficient sperm preparation technique when the semen sample exhibits teratozoospermia, especially head or neck abnormality. However, in sample with < 5% normal form or tail abnormality, There is not significant improvement following PGC.
Centrifugation* ; Equidae ; Head ; Humans* ; Immersion ; Incheon ; Infertility ; Neck ; Semen ; Spermatozoa*

PURPOSE: To report a case of episcleral cartilaginous single tissue choristoma attached to pterygium with literature review. METHODS: A-65-year old woman had a pterygium. we found hard and movable mass attached to pterygium over medial rectus muscle when we excised pterygium. Excisional biopsy was done. RESULTS: This mass was confirmed as episcleral cartilaginous single tissue choristoma.
Biopsy ; Choristoma* ; Female ; Humans ; Pterygium

The abnormalities in Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA) axis are associated with many psychiatric symptoms including depression. We present a report of a 71 year old man who was admitted to the psychiatric department presenting symptoms of headache, avolition, loss of energy, psychomotor retardation, poor appetite, insomnia, anxiety resulting from adrenal insufficiency and hypopituitarism. Hypothyroidism and electrolyte disturbance were managed and headache, insomnia, anxiety, GI symptoms were improved. But he remained in anergic state. After discharge, he was readmitted to infection department with high fever and drowsy mentality. Adrenal insufficiency was recognized and he was treated with corticosteroid replacement therapy. Finally his diagnosis was made as panhypopituitarism and overall symptoms were resolved. In this case, we showed how the atypical symptoms resulting from hypopituitarism develop and progress. Hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, and growth hormone deficiency resulting secondarily from panhypopituitarism were associated with various nonspecific symptoms such as loss of energy, fatigue, insomnia, weight loss, decreased appetite etc. In clinical situation, differential diagnosis with depression is needed when clinicians were met a patient with these nonspecific symptoms. It is important that laboratory tests and differential diagnosis with endocrine diseases should be conducted, especially in geriatric patients with nonspecific symptoms like anergia, fatigue, poor appetite and so on.
Adrenal Insufficiency ; Anxiety ; Appetite ; Axis ; Depression ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endocrine System Diseases ; Fatigue ; Fever ; Growth Hormone ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypopituitarism ; Hypothyroidism ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Weight Loss

No abstract available.
Humans*

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, which invades a wide range of hosts including humans. The exact mechanisms involved in its invasion are not fully understood. This study focused on the roles of Ca2+ in host cell invasion and in T. gondii replication. We examined the invasion and replication of T. gondii pretreated with several calcium modulators, the conoid extrusion of tachyzoites. Calmodulin localization in T. gondii were observed using the immunogold method, and Ca2+ levels in tachyzoites by confocal microscopy. In light microscopic observation, tachyzoites co-treated with A23187 and EGTA showed that host cell invasion and intracellular replication were decreased. The invasion of tachyzoites was slightly inhibited by the Ca2+ channel blockers, bepridil and verapamil, and by the calmodulin antagonist, calmidazolium. We observed that calcium saline containing A23187 induced the extrusion of tachyzoite conoid. By immunoelectron microscopy, gold particles bound to anti-calmodulin or anti-actin mAb, were found to be localized on the anterior portion of tachyzoites. Remarkably reduced intracellular Ca2+ was observed in tachyzoites treated with BAPTA/AM by confocal microscopy. These results suggest that host cell invasion and the intracellular replication of T. gondii tachyzoites are inhibited by the calcium ionophore, A23187, and by the extracellular calcium chelator, EGTA.
Animals ; Calcium/*physiology ; Calcium Channel Blockers/pharmacology ; Calmodulin/antagonists & inhibitors ; Chelating Agents/pharmacology ; Hela Cells ; Host-Parasite Relations ; Humans ; Ionophores/pharmacology ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Toxoplasma/drug effects/pathogenicity/*physiology

No abstract available.
Female ; Ovary* ; Teratoma*

No abstract available.
Sparganosis*

In the present study, the effect of primary infection to reinfection with Ascaris suum larvae was experimented in mouse model. Mice were challenged with l,000 infective stage eggs of Ascaris suum. The embryonated eggs were directly introduced into stomach of mice. Reinfection was performed at 50 days after the primary infection with same method as primary infection. Mice were sacrificed 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 20 days after infection in both groups respectively. Larvae collected from livers and lungs with Baermann's apparatus were enumerated and measured after sacrifice. Sera of mice were also collected at same time. The results of the experiment were as follows: With antigen prepared from coelomic fluid of adult Ascaris suum and sera collected from mice before reinfection, the production of antibody in experimental mice was confirmed by the gel-diffusion technique. In the livers of reinfected mice, the larvae were recovered up to 10 days after challenge, otherwhile in the primary infected mice, the larvae were observed up to 7 days. The maximum number of larvae were observed in the lungs of primary infected mice on 10 days after inoculation. In the lungs of reinfected mice, maximum number of larvae were recovered on 7 days after, only few larvae were recovered on 10 days after reinfection. As regards the growth of the larvae, the third stage larvae, over 500 micrometer in length, appeared in livers at 5 days after reinfection, but it couldn't be found on 7 days and 10 days after challenge. The third stage larvae continuously developed were observed in lungs of mice from 5 days after reinfection. In conclusion, it was found that development of larvae in livers of immune mice were probably repressed by the immune mechanisms being rised in livers and defence mechanism is also acting by interfering with the process of larval penetration into the lung from the liver.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; immunology ; Ascaris lumbricoides ; mouse

Baclofen, a derivative of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), is used for the treatment of muscle spasm, intractable hiccups and multiple sclerosis. It is mostly excreted by glomerular filtration with a clearance that is proportional to creatinine clearance. Early hemodialysis is a treatment of the choice for baclofen-induced neurologic complication in renal failure patients. We experienced a 57-year-old hemodialysis patient with right arm muscle spasm who developed baclofen-associated encephalopathy by a single dose of oral baclofen (10 mg). He admitted to the hospital with the symptom of stuporous mental status with no specific focal neurologic signs. Brain CT imaging and blood biochemistry showed no specific abnormality. EEG revealed the typical metabolic encephalopathy findings, such as triphasic wave and frontal lobe syndrome with delta wave. After daily hemodialysis for 3 days, there was a complete recovery of an altered mentality. After one month later, the follow-up EEG showed normal finding with the resolution of abnormal waves. We report this case with a review of relevant literature. Baclofen should be used carefully, and rather recommended not to be administered in patients with renal failure.
Arm ; Baclofen ; Biochemistry ; Brain ; Brain Diseases, Metabolic ; Creatinine ; Electroencephalography ; Filtration ; Follow-Up Studies ; Frontal Lobe ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Hiccup ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Renal Dialysis* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Spasm ; Stupor