PURPOSE: We evaluated the contralateral patent processus vaginalis(CPPV) by transinguinal laparoscopy in boys with unilateral inguinal hernia, to determine its incidence and the association with various clinical parameters. We also investigated the factors responsible for the development of a metachronous inguinal hernia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred sixty seven boys with unilateral inguinal hernia were analyzed. The morphology of the ring was classified into four patterns(type 1, 2a, 2b, and 3). We analyzed the morphology of the internal ring and the variables related to a CPPV by age, laterality and the size of the ipsilateral and/or bilateral hernia sac. RESULTS: The incidence of a CPPV was 33.9%. The positive predictive value was 94.9%(56/59). There was no statistical difference in the incidence of a CPPV by laterality. The incidence of a CPPV was significantly higher in the group with a larger size(>or=1cm) compared to the smaller abnormalities(<1cm). The incidence of the type 3 pattern was higher than the type 2b pattern in the group with larger abnormalities. With increasing age, type 1 and 2a patterns increased in frequency, but type 2b decreased and the type 3 pattern was stable. The size of the contralateral hernia sac was significantly larger with the type 3 pattern than the type 2b. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study showed that the size of the hernia sac and patient age were related to the presence of a CPPV. A type 3 pattern was associated with a more primitive morphology, a wider hernia sac and no change in the incidence with advancing age. Therefore, the findings of this study suggest that a metachronous inguinal hernia develops more commonly in patients with a type 3 pattern internal ring.
Diagnosis ; Hernia* ; Hernia, Inguinal* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laparoscopy* ; Risk Factors*

BACKGROUND: It is known that QT dispersion represents asynchronous repolarization of ventricle which is related to ventricular fibrillation. The incidence of ventricular arrhythmia is increased after acute myocardial infarction. So this study compared QT dispersion and other repolarization indexes for detection of asynchronous repolarization in acute myocardial infarction. We also investigated which portion of repolarization is the key portion of the asynchrony. METHODS: In 37 acute myocardial infarction patients and 38 angina patients dispersion of QT, JT, JTpeak and QTpeak were measured. We also measured maximum adjacent dispersion of same parameters in precordial leads. In 20 survived patients and 17 dead patients after acute myocardial infarction were also compared. We also investigated correlation of PVC's on Holter monitoring with these repolarization parameters. RESULTS: 1) All ventricular repolarization indexes(QT, QTc, JT, JTpeak, QT peak and TpeakTend dispersion) were significantly increased in acute myocardial infarction group than compared with those of angina group(p<0.05). 2) Maximal precordial dispersion(QT, QTc, JT, JTpeak and QTpeak) were also significantly increased in acute myocardial infarction group than angina group(p<0.05). 3) Dead patient group after myocardial infarction showed significantly increased QTc and TpeskTend dispersion compared with those of survived patient group(p<0.05). 4) Multivariate linear correlation showed that TpeakTend dispersion and JT dispersion was correlated with QT dispersion. CONCLUSIONS: There were asynchronous myocardial repolarization changes in acute myocardial infarction. Our study demonstrated that T wave change was major determinant of dispersion of myocardial repolarization.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Ventricular Fibrillation

No abstract available.
Arthritis* ; Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy*

PURPOSE: Currently, no studies have examined the diurnal variation of sex hormones in Korean men. We realized that accurate models of the diurnal variation of the sex hormones in Korean males are needed to evaluate and manage patients in urology. Therefore diurnal variation of testosterone and related sex hormones were investigated in young Korean men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Healthy Korean men from 20 to 25 years old who had evident secondary growth were enrolled. We drew blood from each subject 12 times at 2-hour intervals for 24 hours. The concentrations of total testosterone, estradiol, luteinizing hormone, sex hormone binding globulin and albumin were measured. The free and bioavailable testosterone were calculated by Vermeulen's equation. To analyze the rhythmicity of diurnal variation in sex hormones, 24-hr cosine regression analysis was used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Total testosterone, free testosterone, estradiol, and testosterone estradiol ratio demonstrated a significant diurnal cosinor rhythm. The diurnal variation of bioavailable testosterone did not demonstrate a statistically significant cosinor rhythm. CONCLUSIONS: The diurnal variations of serum total and free testosterone concentration in Korean young men were similar to those found in studies of Caucasian men. Our study provides basic data for future studies of Korean male sex hormones. Furthermore, additional studies targeted toward various male age groups are needed to make the standard models of sex hormones in Korean men.
Adult ; Circadian Rhythm* ; Estradiol* ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; Humans ; Lutein* ; Luteinizing Hormone* ; Male ; Periodicity ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin* ; Testosterone* ; Urology

Patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome often suffer complications of the polyps, such as intussusception, bowel obstruction, and bleeding. Furthermore, repeated operations may be required in some patients, which may result in short-bowel syndrome. Intraoperative enteroscopy during a laparotomy for this syndrome was introduced. This can avert multiple enterotomies and decrease bowel resection segments. We report the cases of three consecutive patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome who recently underwent intraoperative enteroscopy via enterotomy with successful removal of most small-bowel polyps. The large polyps of the jejunum required an enterotomy for their removal, but smaller polyps at the lower ileum were identified and removed by using intra-operative total enteroscopy. A more complete polypectomy can be performed using this technique, thus allowing patients with Peutz- Jeghers syndrome a longer interval between laparotomies and a reduction in the symptoms attributed to polyps.
Endoscopy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ileum ; Intestinal Polyps ; Intraoperative Care ; Intussusception ; Jejunum ; Laparotomy ; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome* ; Polyps

We report a case of torsion of a benign cyst arising from the parietal layer of the tunica vaginalis, which presented on an acute scrotum. Physical examination revealed a tender swelling of the left hemiscrotum. Surgical, we happened to find torsion of a cyst originating from the parietal layer of the tunica vaginalis. The pedicle of the cyst was twisted about 360 degrees.
Physical Examination ; Rabeprazole ; Scrotum*

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship of improvement in erectile function (EF) with improvement in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and to assess the contribution of tamsulosin dose to the improvement of EF apart from the indirect influence of LUTS improvement in men with LUTS and erectile dysfunction (ED). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients received tamsulosin 0.2 mg/d for the first 4 weeks and were subsequently divided into two groups by patient-reported outcomes. Nonescalators were maintained starting dose and escalators increased to 0.4 mg for the remaining 8 weeks. International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), and underwent uroflowmetry were evaluated at baseline, and weeks 4 and 12. RESULTS: LUTS parameters were significantly improved in both groups but insignificant between the 2 groups. The degree of the improvement in the total IPSS and in the voiding, storage, and quality of life (QoL) subscores were significantly correlated with the degree of the improvement in EF; this was especially prominent in patients successfully treated LUTS. The escalators experienced a significantly greater increase in IIEF-5 scores than did the nonescalators (3.3 vs. 1.5). CONCLUSIONS: Dose escalation provided similar LUTS improvement in patients with refractory to starting dose. The improvements of LUTS were correlated with the improvement of EF. The increase in the IIEF-5 score was significantly higher in escalators. These findings imply that tamsulosin may contribute to the improvement in EF through the improvement of LUTS and QoL and direct relaxation of the corpus cavernosum in a dose-dependent fashion.
Elevators and Escalators ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life ; Relaxation ; Sulfonamides

DNA barcoding has been widely used in species identification and biodiversity research. A short fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence serves as a DNA bio-barcode. We collected DNA barcodes, based on COI sequences from 156 species (529 sequences) of fish, insects, and shellfish. We present results on phylogenetic relationships to assess biodiversity the in the Korean peninsula. Average GC% contents of the 68 fish species (46.9%), the 59 shellfish species (38.0%), and the 29 insect species (33.2%) are reported. Using the Kimura 2 parameter in all possible pairwise comparisons, the average interspecific distances were compared with the average intraspecific distances in fish (3.22 vs. 0.41), insects (2.06 vs. 0.25), and shellfish (3.58 vs. 0.14). Our results confirm that distance-based DNA barcoding provides sufficient information to identify and delineate fish, insect, and shellfish species by means of all possible pairwise comparisons. These results also confirm that the development of an effective molecular barcode identification system is possible. All DNA barcode sequences collected from our study will be useful for the interpretation of species-level identification and community-level patterns in fish, insects, and shellfish in Korea, although at the species level, the rate of correct identification in a diversified environment might be low.
Biodiversity ; DNA ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; Insects ; Korea ; Shellfish

PURPOSE: To predict the malignant potential of prostate cancer (PCa) according to prostate-specific antigen velocity (PSAV), PSA density (PSAD), free/total PSA ratio (%fPSA), and digital rectal examination (DRE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2009 to December 2012, 548 adult male patients were diagnosed with PCa by prostate biopsy at four hospitals in Korea. We retrospectively analyzed 155 adult male patients with an initial PSA level < or =10 ng/mL and whose PSA levels had been checked more than two times at least 6 months before they had been diagnosed with PCa, with test intervals of more than 3 months. Patients with a urinary tract infection, and patients who had previously undergone cystoscopy or surgery of the prostate were excluded. We separated patients into two groups according to Gleason sum [Gleason sum < or =7 (n=134) or Gleason sum > or =8 (n=21)] and the presence of extracapsular invasion [organ confined (n=129) or extracapsular invasion (n=26)]. Differences between the groups were compared. RESULTS: The group with a Gleason sum > or =8 or extracapsular invasion of PCa showed high PSAV and significantly lower %fPSA. There were no significant differences in PSAD and the presence of an abnormality on DRE between two groups. CONCLUSION: In PCa patients treated with other therapies besides prostatectomy, a high PSA velocity and a low %fPSA may predict high grade PCa with a Gleason sum > or =8 or the presence of extracapsular invasion.
Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy, Needle ; Digital Rectal Examination ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Prostate/*pathology ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/*blood ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms/*pathology/surgery ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Tumor Burden

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical factors that impact ureteral stent-related lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) after ureteroscopic ureterolithotomy, including the stent position and medication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-three patients who underwent ureteroscopic ureterolithotomy with indwelling a stent were distributed into three groups. On demand analgesics were given to the group 1 (n=18). Daily tamsulosin 0.2 mg was added for group 2 (n=15) and daily tamsulosin 0.2 mg and tolterodine 4 mg was added for group 3 (n=20). The patients were also subclassified into appropriate or inappropriate group according to stent position. All the patients completed a visual analogue scale (VAS) and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) on the 1st and 7th postoperative days. The VAS and IPSS were analyzed according to the medication groups and the stent position. RESULTS: In the appropriate stent potion group, only the storage symptom scores of groups 2 and 3 on the 1st postoperative day were significantly lower than those of the group 1 (p=0.001). This medication effect on LUTS was not observed in the inappropriate stent position group. In this group, total IPSS (p=0.015) and storage symptom scores (p=0.002) were higher than in the appropriate stent position group on the 7th postoperative day. CONCLUSIONS: Correct placement of the stent was more important than medication for lessening stent-related storage symptoms.
Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; Analgesics ; Benzhydryl Compounds ; Cholinergic Antagonists ; Cresols ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Phenylpropanolamine ; Prospective Studies ; Prostate ; Stents ; Sulfonamides ; Ureter ; Ureteroscopy ; Urinary Catheterization ; Urological Manifestations ; Tolterodine Tartrate