Male genital tract inflammatory conditions may be associated with unexplained infertility. The presence of cytokine such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was reported in the semen of infertile men. However, the effect of these cytokines on human sperm function is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in-vitro effects of TNF-alpha on human sperm motility with computer assisted sperm analysis. Washed sperm from 16 normal men were incubated without and with TNF-alpha(0.1, 10, 1000 ng/ml). The changes of parameters of sperm motility were recorded at different time intervals (0, 5, 24 hour). There was no significant change of parameters of sperm motility in the incubation with TNF-alpha. It is suggested that TNF-alpha alone does not interfere with the sperm motility and more studies are needed.
Cytokines ; Humans ; Infertility ; Male ; Semen ; Sperm Motility* ; Spermatozoa* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

The urethral polyp is relatively unusual lesion but recently, has been reported more frequently Polyps of the anterior urethra are less common than those of the posterior urethra. The lesion is usually encountered in the young child but has occurred in the adult. Recently, we found two cases of urethral polyp. So, we report these with a brief review of the literature.
Adult ; Child ; Humans ; Polyps* ; Urethra

Although the introduction of oral phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors has revolutionized the treatment of erectile dysfunction, there is still a need for new effective therapies for patients who fail to respond or who have severe cardiovascular disease. Stem cell therapy may restore physiological erections following normal endogenous signals. Treatments based on stem cells have the advantages of no inflammation and less immune rejection. Immunohistochemical evidence for nerve preservation and improved erectile function in rats after administration of neural embryonic stem cells intracavernosally has been reported. Potential differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells after injection into the corpus cavernosum in rats was confirmed. Mesenchymal stem cells alone or mesenchymal stem cells altered by gene therapy with endothelial nitric oxide synthase or calcitonin-related peptide restored damaged erectile physiology and improved erectile capacity in rats. Injection of skeletal muscle-derived cells into the corpus cavernosum improved erectile function. Fetal and cord blood stem cells also can be used as the source of stem cells. Recently, multipotent amniotic fluid-derived stem cells have been isolated. Advances in the research of amniotic fluid-derived stem cells are expected to further raise the hope for stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy to restore erectile function may represent a fascinating new therapeutic strategy for future treatment.
Animals ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5 ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; Endothelial Cells ; Erectile Dysfunction* ; Fetal Blood ; Genetic Therapy ; Hope ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Penis ; Physiology ; Rats ; Stem Cells*

PURPOSE: Glutamate and aspartate are the excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters and NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) is one of their major receptors. NMDA agonist may sti mulate serotonergic nervous system that inhibit the penile erection as well as induce the penile erection. We investigate the effects of NMDA agonist on serotonin release from hippocampus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The slices of hippocampus were incubated in a buffer con taining 0.1mM [(3)H]5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) for uptake in the male rat. The release of 5-HT into the buffer during each 10 minutes period was measured and the radio activities in each buffer and the tissue were counted. After 50 min from the initiation, NMDA agonist were administered at 6th and 7th 10 min period respectively. The changes of 5-HT release were expressed as percent values compared to the 5th 10 min period. Tetrodotoxin was used to determine the possible involvement of interneuron on the action of these neurotransmitters. RESULTS: A steady release of 5-HT was observed up to 100 minutes after the rapid release during the first 40 minutes. Treatment of tetrodotoxin (10(-6)M) did not change the spontaneous release of 5-HT. The 5-HT released during 10 and 20 minutes of NMDA agonist (10(-4M)) treatment significantly higher than those of control group. The increase of 5-HT release by NMDA agonist was blocked by pretreatment with tetro dotoxin. The release of 5-HT was increased by NMDA agonist and this response was blocked by tetrodotoxin. CONCLUSIONS: NMDA agonist increases the release of 5-HT through the activation of the interneurons and these results suggest that NMDA agonist may stimulate the serotonergic nervous system that inhibit the penile erection as well as inducing the penile erection.
Animals ; Aspartic Acid ; Excitatory Amino Acids ; Glutamic Acid ; Hippocampus* ; Humans ; Interneurons ; Male ; N-Methylaspartate* ; Nervous System ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Penile Erection ; Rats* ; Serotonin* ; Tetrodotoxin

The clinical observation on diagnosis and treatment was made in 84 patients of renal injury during the period from 1983 to 1989. The results were as follows. 1. The sex ratio of male to female was 3.4:1 and the most favorable age was from 20 to 39 years for 46.4%. 2. The main cause of injury was nonpenetrating injury of which traffic accidents was the most common cause. 3. The associated injuries were seen in 100% of penetrating injury and 55.1% of nonpenetrating injury. The most common associated injury was diaphragmatic injury in penetrating injury and head injury in nonpenetrating injury. 4. Flank pain and hematuria were found in 91.7% and 84.5% in the patients with renal injury, respectively.5. IVP. CT scan, ultrasonography and retrograde pyelography were taken in 63. 50.5 and 2 patients. respectively for the diagnosis of renal injury. The frequency of minor. major and pedicle renal injury were 63.1%. 33.3% and 3.6%, respectively. 6. In minor injury. conservative treatment and renorrhaphy were performed in 98.1% and 1.9% and complication occurred in 3.8%. In major injury. conservative treatment. nephrectomy. partial nephrectomy and renorrhaphy were performed in 46.4%, 32.1%. .14.2% and 7.1%. respectively and complication occurred in 21.4%. In pedicle injury. nephrectomy was performed in 100% and complication was happened in 33.3%. From the viewpoint of the cause of injury, conservative treatment was performed in 16.7% in penetrating injury and 82.1% in nonpenetrating injury. In conclusion. the accurate diagnosis and treatment plan of renal injury with computed tomography are important. When the selection between conservative treatment and operative treatment is difficult, aggressive operative treatment is effective for the preservation of the injured kidney and the prevention of complications.
Accidents, Traffic ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Diagnosis* ; Female ; Flank Pain ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Kidney ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Sex Ratio ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Urography ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating

No abstract available.
Animals ; Clomipramine* ; Preoptic Area* ; Rats* ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors* ; Serotonin*

This study was performed to evaluate the influence of the possible preoperative prognostic factors on the results of pyeloplasty and to predict the postoperative prognosis according to these factors. Of 56 cases under the age of 15 years admitted to Yonsei University Medical Center from 1979 to 1988 with the diagnosis of ureteropelvic junction obstruction, 30 cases, who could be followed up after dismembered pyeloplasty, were analyzed for the preoperative prognostic factors. The possible preoperative prognostic factors affecting postoperative results after pyeloplasty are the age at the time of surgery. the length of obstruction and the state of growth and development. But the pyuria, the urinary tract infection, the severity of hydronephrosis, the presence of extrarenal pelvis, the function and degree of obstruction of the diseased kidney on renography, the thickness of renal parenchyme and the presence of the obstruction of contralateral kidney did not affect the postoperative results after pyeloplasty.
Academic Medical Centers ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Growth and Development ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Infant* ; Kidney ; Pelvis ; Prognosis ; Pyuria ; Radioisotope Renography ; Urinary Tract Infections

No abstract available.
Stem Cells*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Flowmeters* ; Magnets* ; Male ; Models, Animal* ; Penile Erection* ; Rats*

Transrectal Ultrasonography (TRUS) easily provides an accurate assessment of the seminal tract. In Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) of the seminal tract, the anatomic relationships are more clearly seen and the multiplanar imaging is available, so a more definitive diagnosis can be achieved. Although TRUS and MRI have been studied extensively, the findings of TRUS have not been compared with those of MRI. We studied 29 patients who were assessed with TRUS and MRI simultaneously due to disease of the seminal tract. The findings of cystic disease were coincident between TRUS and MRI. But the small size Mullerian duct cysts were not found in TRUS but were found in MRI. Hemorrhage of the ejaculatory duct and seminal vesicle, thickened ampulla portion of vas deferens were found only in MRI. Ejaculatory duct and seminal vesicle calcification were not easily found in TRUS due to their small size. The findings of seminal vesicle atrophy, dilatation and prostatic calcification between TRUS and MRI were discrepant. In conclusion, MRI is more helpful than TRUS in the diagnosis of small Mullerian duct cyst, small ejaculatory duct calculi, small seminal vesicle calculi, hemorrhage of ejaculatory duct and seminal vesicle and thickened ampulla portion of vas eferens.
Atrophy ; Calculi ; Diagnosis* ; Dilatation ; Ejaculatory Ducts ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Seminal Vesicles ; Ultrasonography* ; Vas Deferens