Recent reports suggest that the responses of the detrusor muscle to the hypogastric nerve stimulation and some autonomic drugs may not be identical among various species. In this study, the responses of the isolated detrusor muscle strips of the Amyda Japonica and the rabbit to catecholamines were compared, and the type of the adrenergic-receptors was investigated. The results obtained were as follows : 1. Catecholamines (norepinephrine and epinephrine) evoked only contraction in the isolated detrusor muscle of the Amyda Japonica and relaxation in the preparation of the rabbit. 2. The contraction-response in the Amyda Japonica was blocked in the presence of regitine, an adrenergic alpha-receptor blocking agent. 3. The relaxation-response in the rabbit was abolished by pre-treatment with propranolol, an adrenergic beta-receptor blocking agent. 4. Acetylcholine elicited contraction in both of the isolated detrusor muscle strips of the Amyda japonica and the rabbit, and the response was completely blocked in the presence of atropine. 5. The results described above suggest that catecholamines exert excitatory effect on the detrusor muscle of the Amyda japonica as it contains adrenergic alpha-receptors and inhibitory effect on the same preparation of the rabbit as it contains the adrenergic beta-receptors. Key Word : amyda japonica,alpha receptor, beta receptor.
Acetylcholine ; Atropine ; Autonomic Agents* ; Catecholamines ; Phentolamine ; Propranolol ; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta ; Relaxation

The resistance of neoplastic cells to chemotherapeutic agents may develops by a variety mechanisms. One of these mechanisms seems to be the amplification or overexpression of the multidrug resistance(MDR) gene. The MDR phenotype is conferred by a 170kD membrane protein, P-glycoprotein. This protein acts as a drug efflux pump for a variety of structurally unrelated antineoplastic agents, especially hydrophobic natural products such as adriamycin and vincristine. In the present study, immunohistochemical stain for P-glycoprotein was performed in paraffin section of 41 specimens of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder obtained prior to chemotherapy to investigate the usefulness of P-glycoprotein as a predictor of response to M-VAC ( methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin and cisplatin) chemotherapy. The overall clinical response rate to chemotherapy was 65.9%. The overall 3- year survival rate was 63%, with 80% in responder group( clinical complete and partial remission) and 36.3% non-responder group(minor response, stabilization and progression ) (P<0.05). In the responder group, 7.4% expressed strongly positive P-glycoprotein, 63% weakly positive and 29.6% negative. In the non-responder group, 28.6% expressed strongly positive P-glycoprotein, 64.3% weakly positive and 7.1% negative. The negative expression rate was high in responder group than non-responder, but this difference was not statistically significant. There was no correlation of expression of P-glycoprotein with either tumor stages or grades. In conclusion, these results suggest that tumors with negative expression of P-glycoprotein seem to have a better clinical response to chemotherapy, and further investigation of other mechanisms of cellular drug resistance should be required.
Antineoplastic Agents ; Biological Products ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Resistance ; Drug Therapy* ; Membrane Proteins ; Methotrexate ; P-Glycoprotein* ; Paraffin ; Phenotype ; Survival Rate ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Vinblastine ; Vincristine

Renal cell carcinoma in children is extremely rare as compared with Wilms` tumor. A case of renal cell carcinoma in an 8-year-old boy is presented with a brief review of literature.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Child ; Humans ; Male

This article provides an update on tinnitus for audiologists and other clinicians who provide tinnitus-specific services. Tinnitus can be attributable to hearing loss, somatosensory system dysfunction, or auditory cortex dysfunction, with hearing loss being the most common cause and serious underlying pathologies being rare. Hearing loss does not always lead to tinnitus, and patients with tinnitus do not always suffer from hearing loss. The first scenario is explained by a so-called inhibitory gating mechanism, whereas the second assumes that all tinnitus sufferers have some degree of hearing impairment, which might not be detected in standard audiological examinations. The treatments should aim at symptomatic relief and management of associated distress. Current treatment options include pharmacotherapy, education, counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and sound therapy.

No abstract available.
Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; Mouth Mucosa

Building a database file in the medical literature using personal computer enables individualized computer user to search with a small amount of time and effort. We developed a computer program for searching medical literature. This program was developed with Clipper database language, and runs on IBM-PC-compatible computers. The data is based on the Index of Korean Journal of Urology which was revised in 1991. The program is focused on the function of retrieving and printing of keywords, authors and titles, etc. We expect more advanced and beneficial program for searching of medical literature based on this program.
Microcomputers ; Urology*

Traumatic amputation of a penis is an unusual injury. Amputation of the penis occurs most commonly as an act of self-emasculation, but has also been reported as resulting from assaults or accidental dismemberments. We report a case of successful clinical replantation of an amputated penis resulting from assaults by using a microvascular surgery.
Amputation ; Amputation, Traumatic ; Male ; Penis ; Replantation*

A fistulous communication between the kidney and the colon is rare. The underlying cause is usually a pyonephrotic kidney which becomes adherent to a portion of the colon and then ruptures spontaneously, thus creating a fistula. We present a case of tuberculous renocolonic fistula which occurred in a 7-year-old boy with review of the literature.
Child ; Colon ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Male ; Rupture ; Tuberculosis

Ectopic thoracic kidney is an extremely rare developmental anomaly. Most cases are discovered incidentally on a routine chest roentgenogram. Since the ectopic thoracic kidney may be mistaken for a space-occupying lesion originating above the diaphragm, it is of clinical and diagnostic importance to the thoracic surgeon. We report a case of ectopic thoracic kidney that was diagnosed by chest roentgenogram, intravenous pyelogram, computerized tomogram, and aortogram.
Diaphragm ; Kidney* ; Thorax

PURPOSE: Simple prostatectomy has been a mainstay of therapy for patients with large prostatic adenoma. We describe laparoscopic approach for resection of large prostatic adenoma as an alternative to open simple prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODSaterials and Methods: From July 2006 to May 2007 we performed Laparoscopic simple prostatectomy on 10 patients who were diagnosed with clinically benign prostate hyperplasia(maximal urine flow rate(MFR) < or=10ml/sec, International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS) > or=12 scores, and prostate weight > or=75g). The steps of our extraperitoneal 5 port technique were longitudinal cystotomy, subcapsular plane development, enucleation of the obstructing prostatic adenoma, insertion of Spongospan into the prostatic fossa, traction of 22Fr balloon catheter and suture repair of cystotomy. RESULTS: We successfully performed the operation in all cases without conversion. The mean patient age is 68.1 years old(60-73). The mean preoperative PSA, prostate volume were 8.8ng/ml(1.8-16.9), 97g(74.1- 120.6). The mean operating time and estimated blood loss were 204min (160-275) and 720ml(300-1,200). The resected mass weight was 45.5g (23-70). There were no major complications. The mean hospitalization stay and drain remove days were 11.3 days(9-14) and 5.6 days(4-8). The mean preoperative MFR, IPSS/quality of life(QoL) and were 2.8ml/sec(0-9.6), 25/5(14-35/4-6) and 270ml(250-310). At 3 months postoperatively, the mean MFR, IPSS/QoL and residual urine volume were 15.6ml/sec(12-23), 10/2.6(5-12/2-4) and 16.75(10-40). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic simple prostatectomy could be a useful method for the treatment of large benign prostate hyperplasia. However, more experiences and comparative studies are needed to document the safe and effect compared to open prostatectomy and transurethral resection of prostate.
Adenoma