No abstract available.
Priapism*

No abstract available.
Priapism*

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

It is very important to select the appropriate operative method in cancer surgery. For proximal gastric cancer, a total gastrectomy (TG) has usually had less morbidity and mortality than an extended total gastrectomy (ETG). To compare and evaluate the results of a TG with those of an ETG, the authors analyzed 50 cases treated by a TG and 50 cases treated by an ETG during the last 12 years. The results were as follows: The post operative complication rates were 34% for a TG and 54% for an ETG, the average operation time was 3 hours 53 minutes for a TG and 3 hours 42 minutes for an ETG, the postoperative fasting period was 7.1 days for a TG and 6.5 days for an ETG, and the mean length of hospital stay was 21.4 days for a TG and 22.6 days for an ETG. the ETG had a higher complication rate than the TG, but there was no statistical difference between the operation times, the postoperative fasting periods, and the length of stay in the hospital. from our experience, it is suggested that the ETG is easier, or almost the same, to carry out than the TG procedure. Therefore, we recommend an ETG for proximal gastric cancer to achieve better curative results.
Fasting ; Gastrectomy* ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Stomach Neoplasms*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Humans ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms*

Purpose: Preliminary data suggest that muscle precursor cells (MPCs) play a role in the repair of injured tissues by responding to the release of unknown growth factors, which subsequently induce their differentiation toward a given lineage, such as a nerve cell. The author explored the potential use of these cells for facilitating the regeneration of the peripheral pelvic autonomic nerve. Materials and Methods: MPCs were isolated from the gastrocnemius muscle of normal rats, which were purified via the preplate technique. In this study, 15 male Sprague-Dawley rats weighting 250 to 300 grams were used. Three experimental groups were included: a control group (C, n=5), a unilateral pelvic nerve transected group, with a sham (Hank's balanced salt Solution) injection (S, n=5), and a unilateral pelvic nerve transected group, with MPCs injections (3x10(5)cells) at the site of transection (M, n=5). Two weeks after surgery, a polyethylene tube-50 connected to a pressure transducer was inserted into the dome of the bladder, and the intravesical pressures measured during electrical stimulation (20Hz, 0.05ms, 10v) of the proximal part of the transection of preganglionic pelvic nerve. Then, the rats were sacrificed, and the major pelvic ganglia (MPG) removed for immunohistochemistry of enkephalin. Results: The maximal intravesical pressures for the C, M and S groups were 28.5cmH2O, 13.5cmH2O and 8.6cmH2O, respectively (p<0.001). The pressure difference between the maximal pressure after electrical stimulation and the basal pressure before electrical stimulation for the C, M and S groups were 23.8cmH2O, 8.9cmH2O and 4.6cmH2O, respectively (p< 0.001). The intensity of pericellular immunoreactivity for enkephalin from the removed MPG was more markedly decreased in the S than C group, but was more markedly increased in the M than S group. Conclusions: MPCs can promote peripheral autonomic nerve regeneration, with good correlations between the functional and immunohistochemical results of neurorecovery effect of MPCs.
Animals ; Autonomic Pathways ; Electric Stimulation ; Enkephalins ; Ganglia ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Male ; Muscle Cells ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Nerve Regeneration* ; Neurons ; Polyethylene ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Regeneration ; Transducers, Pressure ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic

PURPOSE: The benefits of varicocelectomy in improving semen quality and pregnancy rate has been clearly demonstrated. However, the reports on the effects of varicocelectomy in patient with painful varicocele are few. We evaluate the efficacy of varicocelectomy with modified Palomo method and microsurgical subinguinal method in these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 109 consecutive patients who underwent varicocelectomy with follow up period more than 3 months were enrolled in the study. We analyzed the degree of varicocele, effects of surgical treatment and results according to surgical technique and grade of varicocele. The result was classified into completely resolved, partially resolved and unchanged based on the relief of pain. The outcome of varicocelectomy was assessed retrospectively either by review of patient's medical records or telephone and letter interview. RESULTS: Of 109 patients, 43 patients (39.4%) underwent varicocelectomy with modified Palomo method and microsurgical subinguinal method for pain. Of those 43 patients, 34 (79.0%) reported complete resolution of pain postoperatively, 4 patients (9.4%) showed partial resolution, 5 patients (11.6%) showed no change. Of the 5 patients with no change, 3 patients had no abnormal finding by postoperative ultrasonography and remaining 2 patients had recurrence of varicocele. There were no statistically significant differences in resolution rate between two surgical methods and among each grade (Chi-square test; p=0.749, 0.690). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of varicocele is an effective treatment for relief of pain in properly selected patients.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Pregnancy Rate ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Semen Analysis ; Telephone ; Ultrasonography ; Varicocele*

PURPOSE: Chronic prostatitis is clinically defined by symptoms consisting of pain, voiding complaints and sexual dysfunction. Determination of the severity and progression over time of the disease and an evaluation of the results of various therapies may be best assessed and monitored by a valid and reliable symptom scoring instruments. We evaluated the reliability, validity and responsiveness of the Korean version of NIH-CPSI and the characteristics of symptom index on chronic prostatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients underwent a complete clinical evaluation and completed the Korean version of NIH-CPSI. The reliability of CPSI was examined by test-retest reliability and internal consistency for 41 chronic prostatitis patients. And the results in chronic prostatitis group were compared with those in 2 groups including 36 benign prostate hyperplasia patients and 46 healthy men. In 41 chronic prostatitis group including 28 IIIA and 13 IIIB patients, CPSI was reassessed after 6 weeks treatment and compared with those of pretreatment state. RESULTS: The Korean version of NIH-CPSI had excellent test-retest reliability (r=0.76 to 0.95) and high internal consistency (Crobach's alpha=0.86 to 0.97) during a 1 week period. The symptom score had significant difference in the each items and domains between chronic prostatitis and healthy control subjects (p<0.05). And the symptom score of each domains was sensitive to change with decreasing score after treatment (p<0.01). Chronic prostatitis had higher score of pain domain and BPH had higher score of urinary symptom domain. But the score of QOL domain was similar in both group. CONCLUSIONS: The NIH-CPSI is clinically reliable, valid, and responsive means of capturing the symptoms and impact of chronic prostatitis. It may be useful in clinical diagnosis and treatment of chronic prostatitis.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostatitis*

This is a clinical analysis and review of one-hundred ninety-four patients with periappendiceal abscesses who were treated at the Departmeat of Surgery, Masan Samsung Hospital over a ten year period from January 1985 to December 1994. The following results were obtained. The incidence of periappendiceal abscesses was 7.24% of the total cases of appendicitis operated on during the same period, and most of the patients(43.8%) were over fifty years old. The male to female ratio was 1:1.02. 41.2% of the patients had operations within four days after their symptoms occurred. On admission, the most common physical finding was tenderness on the right lower quadrant of the abdomen (92.9%) and leukocytosis(> OR = 10,000/mm3) was noted on CBC in 82% of the patients. Abdominal sonograms revealed periappendiceal abscesses in 88% of the patients, 83% were revealed with barium enema and 88% with abdominal CT scan. Many patients(75.5%) visited the local clinic and were treated under the diagnosis of gastritis or enteritis instead of appendicitis. One-hundred eighty-three patients(94.3%) had appendectomies with drainages(94.3%), two patients had drainages of abscesses without appendectomy, six patients had ileocecal resections and three patients had right hemicolectomies. Microbiologically, E. coli was the most frequently cultured species(63%) from abscess, and Klebsiella, Enterococcus and Proteus were isolated in some cases. Postoperative complication occurred in seventy-five patients(38.6%) and the most frequent complication was wound infection(28.8%). There was no mortality and the mean hospital stay was fifteen days.
Abdomen ; Abscess* ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis ; Barium ; Diagnosis ; Enema ; Enteritis ; Enterococcus ; Female ; Gastritis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Klebsiella ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Proteus ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Wounds and Injuries