OBJECTIVE: Nocturia is one of the most bothersome complaints in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. It might be valuable to determine if alpha-blocker treatment for benigh prostatic hyperplasia can improve nocturia and the quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of alpha blocker therapy in benigh prostatic hyperplasia patients with nocturia. METHODS: From January 2004 to June 2006, 68 men (> or =45 years) with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS: International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS)> or =12) and benign prostatic hyperplasia by transrectal ultrasonography (> or =25 mL) and a maximal urine flow rate (Qmax< or =12) were selected for this study. The efficacy of alpha blocker treatment was assessed by analyzing IPSS, QoL, Qmax, and postvoid residual urine (PVR). The data for these parameters was acquired at baseline and after short-term (range, 4-6 weeks) and long-term (range, 12-14 weeks) treatment. We analyzed the relationships between nocturia and other parameters, including age, prostate volume, Qmax, and PVR after alpha-blocker treatment. RESULTS: Overall, 47 of the 68 patients (69.1%) completed the study. IPSS, QoL, Qmax, and PVR showed significantly improvement after alpha blocker treatment. The nocturia score improved 23.8% after long-term alpha blocker treatment. However, nocturia improvement was lowest among the seven individual symptom scores. Other clinical parameters, including patient age, prostate volume, Qmax, and PVR, were not significantly associated with nocturia; only the LUTS severity was associated with nocturia. CONCLUSION: Treatment with alpha-blocker can reduce nocturia in benigh prostatic hyperplasia patients and can improve QoL.
Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Nocturia* ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Quality of Life ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: There is debate whether transition zone index is correlated with the parameters of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The purpose of this study was 3-fold: 1) to determine if transition zone index is correlated with the symptom score and peak flow rates of clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia, 2) to determine if transition zone index is correlated with the symptom score and peak flow rates of clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia after TURP, and lastly 3) to determine if the improvement of symptom score and peak flow rates after TURP is different according to transition zone index. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty eight men, who underwent TURP, were measured total prostate volume and transition zone volume by trasnsrectal ultrasonography. All men were requested to undergo uroflowmetry and intermational prostate symptom score(IPSS), before and after TURP. RESULTS: The significant correlation between transition zone index and IPSS(p = 0.0001, R2 = 0.3652), and the relationships between transition zone index versus peak flow were not statistically significant(p = 0.79, R2 = 0.0015) before TURP. A weak relationship was observed between transition zone index versus IPSS(p = 0.0019, R2 = 0.16), peak flow rate(p = 0.022, R2 = 0.0811) after TURP. The improvement of IPSS and peak flow rate showed statistically significant difference according to transition zone index(p = 0.0001, 0.0787) CONCLUSIONS: The higher transition zone index, the more favorable outcome of transurethral resection of prostate was expected. On the contrary, the lower transition zone index, the less favorable outcome. So transition zone index can be used as a factor predicting the outcome of transurethral resection of prostate. The patient with lower transition zone index may have other factors affecting improvement of symptoms and peak flow rate in addition to obstruction.
Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate* ; Ultrasonography

We presented a case of a 46-year-old man who attended the emergency department with right flank pain. Abdominal computed tomography showed dilated renal pelvis, ureter and distended bladder. Fluid collection was seen in retroperitoneal space and pelvic cavity. He had renal insufficiency. When a urethral catheter was inserted, 1,200 mL urine was drained. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia more than 20 years prior, and had been taking anti-psychotics. He had been living in a sanatorium. He had nocturnal enuresis and had worn an incontinence pad nightly for the last 10 years. His fluid consumption was 10 L/day. After placement of an indwelling urethral catheter for relieving voiding problems and restriction of fluid intake, fluid collection in retroperitoneal spaces and pelvic cavity was removed and renal insufficiency was recovered. After training of self-clean intermittent catheterization, he was discharged.
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Flank Pain ; Humans ; Incontinence Pads ; Kidney Pelvis ; Middle Aged ; Nocturnal Enuresis ; Polydipsia ; Polyuria ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Schizophrenia* ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Catheters ; Urinary Retention*

House dust mite is the most important causative allergens of childhood asthma and its positive rate of allergy skin test reaches up to 80% in atopic asthmatic children in Korea. Although the mite sensitization is more significant in older children(>4 years), it is also important in some younger(<4 years) asthmatic children. To identify the major allergens in Korean atopic asthmatic children and find the variations of IgE binding pattern to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus(Dp) in younger and older age groups, we conducted IgE immunoblot. Sera were collected in 25 children with Dp-sensitive atopic asthma : GroupI(younger children aged 1-3), Goup molder children aged 442). Using our own-made crude Dp extract, we conducted IgE-immunoblot (biotin-avidine-phos-phatase system). In the group I, the 15KD protein was significantly bound by 69.2%(9/13) of sera and 98KD, 59KD, 311KD, 25KD components were bound by 8-16% of sera, respectively. In the group II, the 15KD and 25KD proteins were significant1y bound Immunob1ot by 100% and 67% of sera, and 18KD, 94KD by 33%, 98KD by 25%, 45KD by 8% of sera, respectively. In conclusion, the 15KD protein is the most prevalent IgE-binding antigen in all age groups, on the other hands, IgE-sensitization to 25KD component is confirmed mainly in the cases of older age group in this study.
Allergens ; Asthma ; Child* ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus* ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Korea ; Mites ; Pyroglyphidae* ; Skin Tests

Objectives: Despite greater access to training positions and the presence of more women in emergency medicine, it has remained a men-dominated field. This study aims to identify the key issues causing the gender gap in Korea and establish measures to overcome them. Methods: Using the annual statistical reports of the National Emergency Medical Center and data published on the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine website, cases that listed the current status and positions of members in its organization and its committees were analyzed. Secondary analysis was conducted using data from the 2015 Korean Society of Emergency Survey that included physicians’ demographics, academic ranking, years of experience, clinical work hours, training and board certification, core faculty status, position, and salaries. Results: As of September 2019, women account for only 12.7% of the total number of emergency physicians (EP) in Korea; of 119 chair/ vice‐chair academic positions, women represented only 9.2%. Women EP were more often assistant professors and fellowship-trained, with fewer in core faculty. However, they worked the same numbers of clinical hours as their men counterparts. The median annual salary of women EP was less than that of men EP after adjusting for academic hospital rank, clinical hours, and core faculty status. Conclusions A gender gap still exists among Korean EP, and women earn less than men regardless of their rank, clinical hours, or training. Future studies should evaluate more data and develop system-wide practices to eliminate gender disparities.

PURPOSE: Obesity is a major health problem of global significance because it is clearly associated with an increased risk of health problems, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Lonicera caerulea (LC) originates from high mountains or wet areas and has been used as a traditional medicine in northern Russia, China, and Japan. LC contains a range of bioactive constituents, such as vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols. This study examined the anti-obesity effects of LC during differentiation in preadipocytes. METHODS: The cell viability assay was performed after the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells for 7 days. Oil Red O staining was used to visualize the changes in lipid droplets in 3T3-L1 cells and mouse adipose-derived stem cells (MADSCs). The mRNA expression of obesity-related genes was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: According to the results of Oil Red O staining, the lipid levels and size of lipid droplets in the adipocytes were reduced and the LC extract (LCE, 0.25–1 mg/mL) markedly inhibited adipogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. The treatment of LCE also decreased the mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α (C/EBPα), and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) in 3T3-L1 cells. Western blot analysis showed that the PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SREBP1 protein levels in both 3T3-L1 and MADSC were reduced in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that LCE can inhibit adipogenic differentiation through the regulation of adipogenesis-related markers.
3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes ; Adipogenesis ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cell Survival ; China ; Japan ; Lipid Droplets ; Lonicera ; Medicine, Traditional ; Mice ; Minerals ; Miners ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Obesity ; Peroxisomes ; Polyphenols ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Russia ; Stem Cells ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 ; Vitamins

The original version of this article contained an error in funding acknowledgment. The authors would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused.

In an epidemiological study of metal workers exposed to metalworking fluids(MWF), the prevalence time of evoultion, seasonal occurrence and clinical type of contact dermatitis were investigated. Composinal analyses of MWF with HPLC, dermatological examination and two consecutive questionnaire surveys were conducted. Study population was divided into two groups ; workers contact to cutting oil and workers contact to rust preventive oil. In the analysis of MWF, aliphatic hydrocarbons, having 12-20 carbons, was most common composition(49.04%) of cutting oil otherwise, major contents (90.99%) of the rust preventives oil were aliphatic hydrocarbons composed of 6-9 carbons. The frequency (point prevalence) of contact dermatitis(CD) was 7(12.7 per 100 subjects) in the dermatological examination of 55 workers. As the result of second survey for contact dermatitis, cumulative prevalence of oil working full-time and recent 1 year prevalence in two groups were 28.0, 16.7 and 15.1, 12.5 per 100 subjects. There were no difference in the prevalence of CD by oil, age, oil contact duration. Summer is the most common evolution season in workers exposed to cuttiogs, but not in workers exposed to rust preventive oil. Major clinical type of CD was erythematous papules in both groups. It presents the importance of preventive measures that 51.1% suffer from contact dermatitis had medical care at their own expense, and 47.1% of them felt serious about their contact dermatitis. From the fact that 68.6% think cotton gloves protective apparatus, we emphasize the need for health education.
Carbon ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Health Education ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons ; Male* ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seasons

Fecal incontinence (FI) undoubtedly reduces quality of life and adversely affects the social life of the affected individual. FI has a higher prevalence with age and has an equivalent prevalence to urinary incontinence in patients with genitourinary disease, but is often not confirmed in these cases. A thorough investigation is needed to diagnose FI, with the common etiology of this condition in mind, and several questionnaires can be used to identify symptoms. The physical examination contains digital rectal examination carries out to identify the patient’s condition. Ultrasound, colonoscopy, and rectum pressure test can be performed. Patients educated in diet-related issues, bowel movements, and defecation mechanism. Nonoperative options such as diet control and Kegel exercise should be performed at first. Surgical treatment of FI is considered when conservative management and oral medications produce no improvement. Surgical options include less invasive procedures like bulking agent injections, and more involved approaches from sacral nerve stimulation to invasive direct sphincter repair and artificial bowel sphincter insertion. Good outcomes in FI cases have also recently been reported for barrier devices.

Fecal incontinence (FI) undoubtedly reduces quality of life and adversely affects the social life of the affected individual. FI has a higher prevalence with age and has an equivalent prevalence to urinary incontinence in patients with genitourinary disease, but is often not confirmed in these cases. A thorough investigation is needed to diagnose FI, with the common etiology of this condition in mind, and several questionnaires can be used to identify symptoms. The physical examination contains digital rectal examination carries out to identify the patient’s condition. Ultrasound, colonoscopy, and rectum pressure test can be performed. Patients educated in diet-related issues, bowel movements, and defecation mechanism. Nonoperative options such as diet control and Kegel exercise should be performed at first. Surgical treatment of FI is considered when conservative management and oral medications produce no improvement. Surgical options include less invasive procedures like bulking agent injections, and more involved approaches from sacral nerve stimulation to invasive direct sphincter repair and artificial bowel sphincter insertion. Good outcomes in FI cases have also recently been reported for barrier devices.