PURPOSE: We investigated the effects of transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) using a pressure-flow study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 25 patients with symptomatic BPH, and an obstructive pattern on urodynamics, were treated with TUNA. We evaluated the patients before TUNA treatment using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life scores (QOL), uroflowmetry, postvoid residual volume (PVR) and pressure-flow studies, for a mean of 6 months following treatment. RESULTS: At 6 months after TUNA, the IPSS decreased from a mean of 22.69 to 7.65 (p<0.01). The QOL scores improved from a mean of 4.65 to 2.13 (p<0.01). The peak flow rate and PVR improved from a mean of 8.13ml/sec to 13.79ml/sec and 98.52ml to 39.52ml (p<0.01), respectively. A reduction in the mean detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate (67.21cmH2O to 47.43cmH2O, p<0.01) and the Abrams-Griffiths number (51.39 to 20.65, p<0.01) indicated that TUNA can significantly lower bladder pressure. With the exception of one patient, no patient complained of any severe side effects. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with BPH, TUNA resulted significant clinical improvements, with no major complications, and slightly decreased the bladder outlet obstruction. We suggest that TUNA is a safe and effective method for treating bladder outlet obstructions due to BPH, especially, in patients at high risk of operative morbidity and mortality, and for aged patients afraid of sexual dysfunction and retrograde ejaculation.
Ejaculation ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Needles ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life ; Residual Volume ; Tuna* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; Urodynamics

PURPOSE: We investigated the effects of transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) using a pressure-flow study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 25 patients with symptomatic BPH, and an obstructive pattern on urodynamics, were treated with TUNA. We evaluated the patients before TUNA treatment using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life scores (QOL), uroflowmetry, postvoid residual volume (PVR) and pressure-flow studies, for a mean of 6 months following treatment. RESULTS: At 6 months after TUNA, the IPSS decreased from a mean of 22.69 to 7.65 (p<0.01). The QOL scores improved from a mean of 4.65 to 2.13 (p<0.01). The peak flow rate and PVR improved from a mean of 8.13ml/sec to 13.79ml/sec and 98.52ml to 39.52ml (p<0.01), respectively. A reduction in the mean detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate (67.21cmH2O to 47.43cmH2O, p<0.01) and the Abrams-Griffiths number (51.39 to 20.65, p<0.01) indicated that TUNA can significantly lower bladder pressure. With the exception of one patient, no patient complained of any severe side effects. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with BPH, TUNA resulted significant clinical improvements, with no major complications, and slightly decreased the bladder outlet obstruction. We suggest that TUNA is a safe and effective method for treating bladder outlet obstructions due to BPH, especially, in patients at high risk of operative morbidity and mortality, and for aged patients afraid of sexual dysfunction and retrograde ejaculation.
Ejaculation ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Needles ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life ; Residual Volume ; Tuna* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; Urodynamics

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to compare the shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) with the rigid ureteroscopic stone removal (URS) in order to establish the efficacy in treating upper ureteral stones according to the stone size. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 328 patients who have been treated for upper ureteral stones between January 1999 and December 2002. 227 patients were treated with SWL, and 101 patients were treated with URS. We analyzed the success rates of the stone removal, reasons for failure, and complication rates of each procedure. RESULTS: The overall success rate of the URS was 93.1%. In terms of stone size, the success rates were 94.5% (<10mm) and 91.3% (>10mm), respectively. With the SWL treatments, the overall success rates after the first, second, and third sessions were 59%, 78%, and 92.5%, respectively. According to the stone size, the success rates were 96.5% (<10mm) and 85.7% (>10mm) after third sessions, respectively. The success rate was significantly affected by the size of the stone in the SWL group, but this was not the case with the URS group. The associated complication rates of URS and SWL were 11% and 7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, URS was relatively more efficacious than SWL when the stone was larger than 10 mm. The proper selection of patients for in situ SWL or URS would improve the results of the initial treatment.
Humans ; Lithotripsy* ; Shock* ; Ureter* ; Ureteral Calculi ; Ureteroscopy

In recent years, with the increasing use of ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT), a large number of renal cell carcinoma has been founded incidentally for a variety of occasions. We reviewed 107 cases of renal cell carcinoma treated surgically from 1988 to 1995, and compared symptomatically suspected group (62 cases) to incidentally detected group (45 cases). The groups were compared according to stage, grade, tumor size, age, sex, laterality and survival rate. The chief imaging methods of detection were ultrasonography (80%), IVP (11%), CT (9%). The main reasons for examination leading to the diagnosis in incidentally detected group were follow-up of other diseases (58%), general health check (31%), and follow-up of unrelated symptoms (11%). The frequency of incidentally detected renal cell carcinoma was increased from 29% (1988-1991) to 48% (1992-1995). The tumor stage and grade were lower in incidentally detected group than suspected group, and tumor size was smaller in incidentally detected group. The 2-year disease free survival rate in incidentally detected group tended to be better (95% vs 68%). So screening test with ultrasonography to detect renal cell carcinoma at an early stage, may be essential.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Diagnosis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Mass Screening ; Survival Rate ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Anterior vaginal wall sling operation (by Raz`s method )for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence(SUI) associated with intrinsic sphincter dysfunction(ISD) may produce postoperative suprapubic discomfort and suture related problem such as pull-through and loosening. Stabilization of the bladder neck to the pubic bone decreases the tension placed on the anterior rectus fascia and lessens the possibility of suture-related pain and the risk of entrapment of ilioinguinal neve branches. At present, bone anchoring system is available in Korea but its cost sometimes limit the use of the kit. Therfore, we developed self-made titanium screw which is anchored to pubic bone at the time of anterior vaginal wall sling operation and acquired good short-term results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 16 women who had SUI with ISD were treated by in-situ anterior vaginal wall sling using self-made titanium screw anchored to pubic bone to support the bladder neck and midurethra. Postoperative results were analyzed for 16 patients who has been followed up for more than 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: Overall cure rate was 100% at 3 months of follow-up. Complication included anemia in 2 patients, mild dysuria in 2 patients and osteitis pubis in 1 patient. After resting and antibiotic therapy, complications were subsided. CONCLUSIONS: In short term follow-up, anterior vaginal wall sling using self-made titanium screw was shown to be very effective treatment of SUI with ISD with simple technique and had relatively low cost, low complication rates. Long-term followup will be necessary to define the efficacy of this method.
Anemia ; Dysuria ; Fascia ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Neck ; Osteitis ; Pubic Bone ; Suture Anchors ; Sutures ; Titanium* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Incontinence*

BACKGROUND: To identify the expression patterns and usefulness of various antibodies in making diagnoses and predicting prognoses, an immunohistochemical study was performed on thymic epithelial tumors (TETs). METHODS: Forty-two cases of TETs were reclassified according to the new World Health Organization (WHO) classifications. CD3, CD5, CD79a, CD99, pan-, high- and low-molecular weight cytokeratins, EMA, vimentin, MIB-1 (Ki67) and p53 immunostaining were carried out. RESULTS: There were two, twelve, eight, two, thirteen and one case for type A, AB, B1, B2, B3 and C, respectively. Combined B1/B2 and B2/B3 were 2 cases each. Fourteen cases (33.3%) had myasthenia gravis. CD99 was immunoreactive mainly in cortically derived lymphocytes, while CD3 and CD5 were immunoreactive in medullary-derived lymphocytes. CD5 immunoreactivity was negative in all thymic epithelial cells, except for one case of type B3. MIB-1 indices were highly expressed in cortical lymphocytes and some thymic epithelial cells, but did not show any correlation with grades. p53 in thymic epithelial cells was expressed in 6 (46%) out of 13 cases of type B3 and one case of type C, and it was negative in all other subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: Only p53 was helpful for predicting high grades (B3 and C) (P<0.05). By MIB-1 indices, we could tell how many cortical immature lymphocytes were occupied in TETs, however, grading could not be achieved.
Antibodies ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Epithelial Cells ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; Lymphocytes ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Prognosis ; Thymus Gland ; Vimentin ; World Health Organization* ; World Health*

PURPOSE: Combined androgen blockade(CAB) is often used in the management of advanced adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Recent case reports indicated that hypogonadism from CAB therapy is associated with osteoporosis and related fracture. The effect of CAB on bone mineral density(BMD) has not been adequately studied in men with prostate cancer. In this study, the possibility, frequency and severity of osteoporosis following CAB in prostate cancer patient was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 19 men with advanced prostate cancer receiving CAB were evaluated for the presence of osteoporosis defined as bone mass 2.5 standard deviation below peak bone mass of young normal men(T-score). The BMB of the femoral neck and lumbar spine were measured. The BMD was then compared to the age-matched control value and reported as the Z-score. BMD measurements were compared to duration of CAB and Gleason score. RESULTS: Osteoporosis occurred in 10 of 15 patients in lumbar spine, and 4 of 18 patients in femoral neck. Osteoporosis was unrelated to the type of the CAB(orchiectomy, or LHRH-agonist). CAB caused a decrease in mean BMD of lumbar spine and femoral neck. There is a negative linear relation between mean BMD and duration of CAB(lumber spine; R2=0.059, Y=-2.368-0.016X, p>0.05, femoral neck; R2=0.089, Y=-1.923-0.020x, p>0.05). There is a statistically significant negative linear relationship between Gleason score and mean T-score of femoral neck(lumbar spine; R2=0.391, Y=-0.08-0.371X, p<0.05, femoral neck; R2=0.517, Y=0.855-0.450x, p<0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Our study provide evidence for acceleration of osteoporosis among men whose prostate cancers were treated with CAB. This study indicates a need for bone mineral density determination at the onset of CAB and at periodic intervals there after to begin appropriate therapy, undefined at this point, for prevention of osteoporosis and its complications aggravated by this therapy.
Acceleration ; Adenocarcinoma ; Bone Density ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Male ; Neoplasm Grading ; Osteoporosis* ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Spine

PURPOSE: This study was performed to assess the difference of the continence indices before and after the tension-free vaginal tape procedure (TVT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively our experience with 30 patients treated with the TVT procedure for stress urinary incontinent women, between January 2002 and December 2003. A comprehensive medical history, physical examination, urinalysis, urine culture, voiding diary, uroflometry and cystourethrogram were performed preoperatively and 3 months after surgery. The positions and mobilities of the bladder neck and the urethra were compared preoperatively and postoperatively by cystourethrograms both at rest and during voiding. The surgical outcomes were evaluated by global satisfaction question, and the definition of success or failure determined by using Stamey's criteria. Multiple parameters, with regard to the uroflometry, and cystourethrogram were analyzed using chi-square tests. RESULTS: In the 30 patients followed up, the TVT procedure was successful in 93.3% (cured 83.3%, improved 10%) 3 months after the procedure. The position and mobility of the bladder neck showed no significant difference before and after surgery, but significant change in the urethral knee angle in cured and improved patients during maximum straining was noted cystourethrographically on cured and improved patients during maximum straining. The preoperative peak flow rates and average flow rates were significantly decreased after surgery, but the residual urine was not. There were no serious complications related to the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The TVT procedure is an effective surgical procedure for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence. The procedure seems neither to change the hypermobility nor to elevate the position of the bladder neck. Urinary continence after surgery is most probably achieved by creating a dynamic mid urethral kinking at stress.
Female ; Humans ; Knee ; Neck ; Physical Examination ; Retrospective Studies ; Suburethral Slings* ; Surgical Mesh ; Urethra ; Urinalysis ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Incontinence

Duodenal diverticulitis is a rare complication of the duodenal diverticulum. Its rarity is due to the relatively large diameter of the duodenum, which makes the intraluminal flow of sterile liquid duodenal contents fluent. Additionally, nonspecific signs and symptoms of duodenal diverticulitis make it very difficult to diagnose properly. We describe a patient presenting with abdominal pain, nausea, and leukocytosis, with diverticulitis of the third portion of the duodenum caused by the impaction of a foreign body, who was diagnosed and treated with enteroscopy.
Abdominal Pain ; Diverticulitis ; Diverticulum ; Double-Balloon Enteroscopy ; Duodenum ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Nausea

The double pylorus is a rare condition consisting of a double communication between gastric antrum and duodenal bulb. Some investigators postulate that the doubling of the pyloric channel is a congenital phenornenon, but others believe that it is an acquired lesion. A 72 year-old-man was admitted to this hospital because of epigastric pain for 1 month. Upper G-I series revealed thickened rnucosal folds of pylorus and duodenal bulb and dilated, deformed duodenal bulb filled with barium materials. Endoscopic findings also showed two ovoid large openings of the pyloric channel divided by smooth thickened septum and multiple gastroduodenal ulcers. We thought that this case was an acquired lesion. The relevant literatures on the subject were reviewed.
Barium ; Duodenal Ulcer ; Humans ; Peptic Ulcer ; Pyloric Antrum ; Pylorus* ; Research Personnel ; Stomach Ulcer