Routine use of the IVP in preoperative evaluation of patients with obstructive bladder outlet symptoms has been questioned on the basis of the chance of incidental finding in the upper tract and the implication of such findings to management. We studied 220 patients who underwent intravenous pyelography before prostatectomy at Department of Urology, Sanggye Paik Hospital from Oct. 1989 to Jun 1992. Of 220 patients, 183( 83.2% ) showed normal upper tract with cystogram compatible with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Abnormalities were found in 37( 16.8% ) patients but treatment plan was altered in only 5(2.25% ) cases. Most of these abnormalities could be detected on KUB or cystoscopy. Only one(0.45% ) malignancy would have been missed without routine IVP. We conclude that IVP in our opinion should not be performed as a routine procedure in patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy, but only in selected cases.
Cystoscopy ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Urinary Bladder ; Urography ; Urology

PURPOSE: To report a case of primary amyloidosis localized to the conjunctiva. CASE SUMMARY: A 19-year-old male with a conjunctival mass and foreign body sensations in the right eye transferred from another hospital. A 0.5 × 2.5 cm reddish mass was present in the medial canthus of the right conjunctiva with no other clinically specific signs. Surgical excisional biopsy was performed. Histological examination showed amyloid deposition. There was no other orbital involvement apart from the conjunctiva. Abnormalities were not found in the systemic examination. CONCLUSIONS: We report a case of primary amyloidosis localized to the conjunctiva.
Amyloidosis ; Biopsy ; Conjunctiva ; Conjunctival Neoplasms ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus ; Male ; Orbit ; Plaque, Amyloid ; Sensation ; Young Adult

Purpose: To investigate the clinical characteristics of infectious keratitis in Gwang-ju, Jeonnam Province, Korea. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 260 eyes of 260 patients diagnosed with infectious keratitis at the Chosun University Hospital from January 2015 to February 2020. Results: The mean age of disease onset was 58.9 years; 132 (50.8%) of all patients were male and 128 (49.2%) female. The culture positivity rate was 24.6%. Gram-negative bacteria were cultured from 38 eyes (59%), Gram-positive bacteria from 21 (33%), and fungi from five (8%). The most commonly isolated microorganism was Stenotrophomonas (xanthomonas) maltophilia (a Gram-negative rod; 17 cases [26.6%]). Prior use of topical antibiotics was significantly more prevalent in the culture-negative than -positive group. In the latter group, the initial visual acuity was poor (p = 0.015) and the frequency of epithelial defects ≥5 mm2 in area was higher than in the culture-negative group (p = 0.001). Trauma caused by vegetable matter (44 eyes, 16.9%) was the most common predisposing factor. The risk factors for a poor visual outcome were such trauma (p = 0.013), previous ocular surgery (p = 0.006), an epithelial defect area greater than 5 mm2 (p < 0.001), and a follow-up period <10 months (p = 0.005). Conclusions The Gwangju Jeollanam-do community is more rural than urban, contains a large older population, and features few hospitals. Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are considered to be the most frequent causes of infectious keratitis in Korea. However, in our study Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was the organism most frequently cultured.

Transurethral resection of Prostate(TURP) is the current optimal therapy for benign prostatic hypertrophy. But in some cases of BPH patients, TURP cannot be performed because the patients have medical disorders not to be operated. Thus several alternatives have been used in the management of BPH patients, especially who had anesthetic contraindications to an operation. We experienced 12 cases of BPH patients applied with Intraurethral Cath(IUC) from April 1991 to September 1995. Eleven patients became able to void after IUC insertion. The maximal flow rates were 5.1 to 15.7 ml/sec and average value was 11.8 ml/sec. Almost all patients showed irritative voiding symptoms such as urgency, urge incontinence, frequency, and dysuria at first. In 7 patients, these symptoms disappeared spontaneously within 2 to 5 days and oxybutynin chloride was used orally in 2 patients. Suprapubic cystostomy was done in three patients because two patients had severe irritative voiding symptoms and one patient had persistent urinary retention. The stent was changed every 3 to 6 months. Stone formation around the device was noted in 2 patients and migration of device into the bladder was found in 2 patients. In 4 patients, TURP was performed when the patient's condition improved enough to be operated under epidural anesthesia. In conclusion, the use of IUC is thought to be a valid, cost effective and safe alternative to TURP in the treatment of highly operative risk patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy.
Anesthesia, Epidural ; Cystostomy ; Dysuria ; Humans ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Stents* ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Incontinence, Urge ; Urinary Retention

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that is characterized by severe episodes of transverse myelitis and optic neuritis. Aquaporin-4-specific autoantibody (NMO IgG) is the marker of NMO. We report herein a 28-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that manifested with bilateral optic neuritis. She had NMO IgG in addition to clinical and serologic characteristics of SLE. This is the first report of a patient with SLE and NMO IgG that manifested with sequential bilateral optic neuritis.
Adult ; Central Nervous System ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Myelitis, Transverse ; Neuromyelitis Optica ; Optic Neuritis

Diabetes has been associated with more severe outcomes and higher mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients compare to morbidity and mortality in patients without diabetes. Several mechanisms may play a role in this greater morbidity and mortality, especially uncontrolled hyperglycemia, an impaired immune system, pre-existing proinflammatory states, multiple comorbidities, and dysregulated angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 signaling. Thus, the diabetes medical community emergently needs to know about COVID-19 and its effects on patients with diabetes, as they must take precautions to carefully manage these patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Korean Diabetes Association provides some guidance and practical recommendations for the management of diabetes during the pandemic. This report provides insight into the association between diabetes and COVID-19, proper management of diabetes in patients with COVID-19 and an official suggestion by the Korean Diabetes Association for managing the COVID-19 outbreak.

We aimed to evaluate structural dynamic changes of neurons in the auditory cortex after visual deprivation. We longitudinally tracked dendritic spines for 3 weeks after visual deprivation in vivo using a two-photon microscope. GFP-labeled dendritic spines in the auditory cortex were serially followed after bilateral enucleation. The turnover rate, density, and size of the spines in the dendrites were evaluated 1, 2, and 3 weeks after visual deprivation. The turnover rate of the dendritic spines in the auditory cortex increased at 1 week (20.1±7.3%) after bilateral enucleation compared to baseline (12.5±7.9%); the increase persisted for up to 3 weeks (20.9±11.0%). The spine loss rate was slightly higher than the spine gain rate. The average spine density (number of spines per 1 μm of dendrite) was significantly lower at 2 weeks (2W; 0.22±0.06 1/μm) and 3 W (0.22±0.08 1/μm) post-nucleation compared to baseline (0.026±0.09 1/μm). We evaluated the change of synaptic strength in the stable spines at each time point. The normalized spine size in the auditory cortex was significantly increased after bilateral blindness at 1 W postoperatively (1.36±0.92), 2 W postoperatively (1.40±1.18), and 3 W postoperatively (1.36±0.88) compared to baseline. Sensory deprivation resulted in remodeling of the neural circuitry in the spared cortex, via cross-modal plasticity in the direction of partial breakdown of synapses, and enhanced strength of the remaining synapses.

Background: Despite the various activities of the regional public hospitals, discussions are being made as to whether or not to continue due to the issue of financial deficit. Therefore, the main factors affecting the fiscal deficit were analyzed with 10-year data. Methods: This study is a panel analysis that analyzed the characteristics of 34 regional public hospitals and influencing factors on medical benefits for 10 years from 2010 to 2019. First, we analyze the determinants of medically vulnerable areas set by the government, analyze the trend of medical profit per 100 beds and medical profit rate from 2010 to 2019, and identify the factors that affect them. Results: Differences in medical profit per 100 beds and medical profit-to-medical profit rate were caused by market share representing regional characteristics, and both indicators improved as the number of outpatients increased. The important influencing variables are the number of doctors and nurses, and both indicators improve when there are specialists, but medical benefits decrease as the number of doctors increases when judged by the number of people per 100 beds. In addition, the number of nurses per 100 beds does not contribute to medical profit and has a negative effect on the medical profit ratio. Conclusion As only regional characteristics were taken into account for medically vulnerable areas, operational characteristics need to be considered. The greatest impact on the finances of local medical centers is the proper staffing of doctors and nurses, and their efficient arrangement is the most important factor in financial stability.

OBJECTIVES: Children are one of the most vulnerable populations to the impact of disasters. We aimed to examine children's mental health in the area affected by the Hebei Spirit oil spill accident on December 7, 2007. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted using the Korean versions of the Children's Depression Inventory and State Anxiety Inventory for Children on 1,362 children attending elementary schools in the affected area. The information on distances between the nearest contaminated coastline to the child's residential house or attending school were obtained using a web-based map by inputting two address points. The symptom risks of depression and state anxiety were estimated by multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, gender, and other covariates. RESULTS: Children with the closest distance (in the fourth quartile) to the school from the contaminated coastline showed a significantly higher symptom risk of depression compared to those with the farthest distance (first quartile)(odds ratio, 2.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.40-5.33), while there was no significant association between anxiety symptoms and distance. CONCLUSIONS: Children, a vulnerable population for mental health impact by the oil spill accident, should be included in mental health programs in the community along with their family as victims of the disaster.
Anxiety ; Child ; Depression ; Disasters ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mental Health* ; Petroleum Pollution* ; Vulnerable Populations ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: There is an individual variation in the hepatic injuries following alcohol abuse, which may be partly caused by the diverse activities of enzymes participating in the degradation of alcohol. Polymorphism of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) gene has been reported to affect the degradating activity of the enzyme, which may be eventually associated with the severity of alcoholic liver disease. In this study we were to evaluate the effects of genetic polymorphism of CYP2E1 on hepatocellular injury or fibrosis. METHODS: We analyzed the relationship of CYP2E1 genotypes to the biochemical and clinical characteristics as well as TGFbeta1 expressions in a total of 33 patients (M:F=32:1) with advanced alcoholic liver cirrhosis. CYP2E1 genotypes were determined by RFLP using RsaI and PstI. The amounts of serum TGFbeta1 were measured by ELISA (TGFbetta1 ELISA system, Promega, USA). RESULTS: Out of 33, 23 (70%) had the CYP2E1 of genotype A and all of the remaining 10 (30%) were type B; there was no one who had type C. The serum albumin levels of patients with type A of CYP2E1 gene were lower than those with type B (p=0.01); the Child-Pugh scores were also higher in patients with type A than B (p=0.03). However, there was no difference between the two groups in the serum AST, ALT, gamma-GTP and bilirubin levels. The patients expressed similar amount of serum TGFbetta1 regardless of their CYP2E1 genotypes. CONCLUSION: Our data indicates that the most common genotype of CYP2E1 is type A (70%) in patients with advanced alcoholic liver cirrhosis in Korea. It is also suggested that patients with enotype A of CYP2E1 may be associated with more advanced alcoholic liver cirrhosis compared to those with type B.
Alcoholics* ; Alcoholism ; Bilirubin ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1* ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System* ; Cytochromes* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibrosis ; Genotype ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic* ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Serum Albumin ; Transforming Growth Factor beta