We compared postoperative renal function impairment between patients undergoing robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) and those undergoing open partial nephrectomy (OPN) by using Tc-99m diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) renal scintigraphy. Patients who underwent partial nephrectomy by a single surgeon between 2007 and 2013 were eligible and were matched by propensity score, based on age, tumor size, exophytic properties of tumor, and location relative to the polar lines. Of the 403 patients who underwent partial nephrectomy, 114 (28%) underwent RAPN and 289 (72%) underwent OPN. Mean follow-up duration was 35.2 months. Following propensity matching, there were no significant differences between the two groups in tumor exophytic properties (P = 0.818) or nephrometry score (P = 0.527). Renal ischemic time (24.4 minutes vs. 17.8 minutes, P < 0.001) was significantly longer in the RAPN group than in the OPN group, while the other characteristics were similar. Multivariate analysis showed that greater preoperative renal unit function (P = 0.011) and nephrometry score (P = 0.041) were independently correlated with a reduction in glomerular filtration rate. The operative method did not correlate with renal function impairment (P = 0.704). Postoperative renal function impairment was similar between patients who underwent OPN and those who underwent RAPN, despite RAPN having a longer ischemic time.
Adult ; Aged ; Demography ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases/diagnostic imaging/pathology/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nephrectomy/*methods ; Retrospective Studies ; *Robotics ; Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate/*chemistry ; Tomography, Emission-Computed

PURPOSE: To determine whether statin use delays the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) in patients with metastatic prostate cancer treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 171 patients with metastatic prostate cancer at the time of diagnosis who were treated with ADT between January 1997 and December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were classified into two groups: the nonstatin use group (A group) and the statin use group (B group). Multivariate analysis was performed on statin use and other factors considered likely to have an effect on the time to progression to CRPC. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 67.1+/-9.1 years, and the mean follow-up period was 52 months. The mean initial prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was 537 ng/mL. Of the 171 patients, 125 (73%) were in group A and 46 (27%) were in group B. The time to progression to CRPC was 22.7 months in group A and 30.5 months in group B, and this difference was significant (p=0.032). Blood cholesterol and initial PSA levels did not differ significantly according to the time to progression to CRPC (p=0.288, p=0.198). Multivariate analysis using the Cox regression method showed that not having diabetes (p=0.037) and using a statin (p=0.045) significantly increased the odds ratio of a longer progression to CRPC. CONCLUSIONS: Statin use in metastatic prostate cancer patients appears to delay the progression to CRPC. Large-scale, long-term follow-up studies are needed to validate this finding.
Adenocarcinoma/drug therapy/*secondary ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Androgen Antagonists/therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use ; Body Mass Index ; Diabetes Mellitus/drug therapy ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/drug therapy/*pathology/*prevention & control ; Protective Factors ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Time Factors

The presence of galectin-3 was immunohistochemically quantified in bovine intestines infected with paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) to determine whether galectin-3 was involved in the formation of granulation tissue associated with the disease. Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection was histochemically confirmed using Ziehl-Neelsen staining and molecularly diagnosed through rpoB DNA sequencing. Galectin-3 was detected in the majority of inflammatory cells, possibly macrophages, in the granulomatous lesions within affected tissues, including the ileum. These findings suggest that galectin-3 is associated with the formation of chronic granulation tissues in bovine paratuberculosis, probably through cell adhesion and anti-apoptosis mechanisms.
Animals ; Cattle ; Cattle Diseases/*pathology ; Chronic Disease ; Galectin 3/*metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intestine, Small/microbiology/*pathology ; Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Paratuberculosis/*pathology ; RNA Polymerase II/genetics

BACKGROUND: To report the long-term outcomes of endoscopic surgery (ES) in pediatric patients with vesicoureteral reflux in terms of success rate, urinary tract infection, and renal function. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 73 pediatric patients (110 ureters) who underwent ES for vesicoureteral reflux. Ultrasonography was performed 1, 3, and 12 months postoperatively. Voiding cystourethrography was performed 3 months postoperatively and repeated after 1 year if vesicoureteral reflux persisted. Success was defined as the absence of reflux at the first voiding cystourethrography. Renal scans were performed at least 12 months postoperatively. Renal function deterioration was defined as a new scar or a greater than 5% decrease in function. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 24 (12–118) months. The overall success was 65.6%, while it was 78.9%, 87.0%, 62.5%, 37.5%, 66.7% for grades I, II, III, IV, and V, respectively. In multivariate analyses, significant predictive factors for success were vesicoureteral reflux grade (odds ratio [OR], 0.28; P < 0.001) and mound detection at the first postoperative ultrasonography (OR, 13.53; P < 0.001). Renal function deterioration was found in 8 (15.3%) ureters and was less common in those with successful surgeries than in those with failures (9.5% vs. 40.0%; P = 0.035). No significant predictive factor for renal function deterioration or urinary tract infection was found. CONCLUSION: Successful short-term outcomes of ES are expected in low-grade vesicoureteral reflux, especially when a mound is detected by postoperative ultrasonography. However, unpredictable long-term renal deterioration warrants continued follow-up.
Cicatrix* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Ureter ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract* ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux*

PURPOSE: Cellulose is a natural substance from plants or bacteria. It is known that bacterial synthesized cellulose has an effect of wound healing. The aim of this study is to show the effect of bacterial synthesized cellulose from citrus on wound healing. METHODS: Three full-thickness skin defects were made on the back of Sprague-Dawley rats. Three wounds were treated by vaseline gauze(Group V), Algisite M(R)(Group A) and bacterial synthesized cellulose from citrus(Group C) was used for dressing on skin defect on rats. We analyzed the gross, histological and biochemistry finding. RESULTS: Group C showed more decrease of wound size compared to Group V(33% versus 7.2#) after 14 days. The histologic findings revealed Group C and Group A preceed the process of wound healing rather than Group V(More rapid collagen deposition and neovascularization and reduced inflammation). Also, the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and transforming growth factor(TGF)-beta1 were increased in the Group C and Group A compared with the Group V in 7 days. VEGF and TGF-beta1 expression were decreased in the Group C and Group A in 14 days, however Group V was not decreased at 14 day because of delayed wound healing process. CONCLUSION: Bacterial synthesized cellulose from citrus affects wound healing by reducing the inflammatory stage. And stimulates wound contracture by the deposition of extracellular matrix, thus preventing the formation of chronic wounds.
Animals ; Bacteria ; Bandages ; Biochemistry ; Cellulose ; Citrus ; Collagen ; Contracture ; Extracellular Matrix ; Petrolatum ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to find the influential clinical and physical characteristics which affect apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. METHODS: We evaluated the comprehensive factors including sleep related symptoms, clinical scales, medical history, substance use, and anthropometric data of the 119 participants who complained of the symptoms of OSA. All the participants underwent attended-full night laboratory polysomnography. The correlation and multiple regression analysis were conducted to find the influential and predictive factors of AHI. RESULTS: A multiple linear regression model 1 showed that higher AHI was associated with higher body mass index (BMI)(p < 0.001) and higher frequency of observed apnea (p = 0.002). In multiple linear regression model 2, AHI was associated with higher BMI (p < 0.001) and loudness of snoring (p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: The present preliminary results suggest that BMI and observed apnea are most influential factors that affect AHI in suspected OSA patients. In the future study we will design the prediction formula for the OSA and AHI, which is useful in the clinical medical field.
Apnea ; Body Mass Index ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Snoring ; Weights and Measures