PURPOSE: Because cryptorchid testes are known to undergo histopathologic changes affecting development, maturation, and tertility, early surgical correction is usually recommended. However there are differing opinions concerning whether retractile testes are affected by similar changes and also whether there is a need for surgical treatment. We aimed to assess the histopathologic changes in retractile testis by studying the changes in testes artificially placed back in the abdomen after they have descended to scrotum in experimental rat models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups; a control group(controls), prepubertal ascent group (P) in which testis were placed back intraabdominally by bilateral inguinal canal obstruction at 6 weeks, a neonatal group(N) in which intraabdminal testis was induced by bilateral inguinal canal obstruction at birth. The relative weight of the testis, morphology of the seminiferous tubules including Leydig cells, tubular degeneration phase(TDP), spermatogonia per tubules(S/T), and Sertoli cell index (SCI) of these three groups were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: The relative weight of testis was significantly decreased in the group of N(0.0016+/-0.001) and P(0.0015+/-0.0002) compared to controls(0.0037+/-0.0002) (p<0.05). The S/T value was also decreased in P(2.05+/-18.2) and N(73.2+/-32.4) when compared to controls (360.2+/-21.3). Similar changes were observed in SCI of both P(64.5+/-6.4) and N (91.2+/-14.2) when compared to controls (227.9+/-31.1). Only minority of N and P showed higher TDP values. However, although statistically insignificant, TDP was increased in both P and N when compared to controls. The Leydig cells in N and P showed cellular distortion and hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrate that prepubertal ascent, similar to that of innate cryptorchid testis, also can induce histopathologic changes such as changes in testicular seminiferous tubule, decrease in the S/T value and decrease in SCI value. Our findings supports that hypothesis that retractile testis may cause histological damage thus surgical correction may also be warranted similar to in case of genuine cryptorchism.
Abdomen* ; Animals ; Cryptorchidism ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Inguinal Canal ; Leydig Cells ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Models, Theoretical ; Parturition ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Scrotum ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Spermatogonia ; Testis*

Regular hemodialysis has been established as a way of treatment for end stage renal failure. In adults, hemodialysis 5 hours each time, three times weekly with one square meter hemodialyzer is now widely accepted as a standard, and there are many reports on long term follow up studies. Quite a large difference are present, however, in our community mainly originated from patient's poor compliance in frequent dialysis with short interdialysis interval. The author analyzed 200 cases of chronic renal failure who have received hemodialysis treatments during the 5 year period from July 1976 to June 1981 at the hemodialysis unit of the hanyang University Hospital and the following results are obtained; 1. Actual one year survival rate was much higher in thrice(87.1%) than one(35.1%) or twice(54.1%) weekly dialysis. 2. Long term(more than 6 months) complications were also more frequent in once(85.7%) or twice(70.2%) weekly treatments than in thrice(22.2%). The predominant complications were congestive heart failure, pericarditis, and infections. 3. Those who recieved three times weekly dialysis had better rehabilitation grades than the patients groups of twice or once weekly treatment. 4. Of peridialysis distressful symptoms, nausea, vomiting dizziness were less frequent in the group three times a week dialysis. In contrast, headache, hypotension, muscle cramps, and weakness were not significantly related with frequency of hemodialysis. 5. Those who voided a large amount of urine output had better survival and less frequent requirement of blood transfusions. 6. Main causes of death were due to patient poor compliance, hyperkalemia and cerebrovascular acidents. 7. Economic problems were the major cause of dialysis interruption.
Adult ; Blood Transfusion ; Cause of Death ; Compliance ; Dialysis ; Dizziness ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia ; Hypotension ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Kidneys, Artificial ; Muscle Cramp ; Nausea ; Pericarditis ; Rehabilitation ; Renal Dialysis* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Survival Rate ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Endoprosthetic reconstruction is widely applied for pathological fractures of the proximal humerus; however, functional impairment is usually unsatisfactory. The aims of the current study are to evaluate the reliability of interlocking intramedullary (IM) nailing with cement augmentation as a fixation method in proximal humeral lesions and to assess functional outcomes. METHODS: We reviewed 32 patients with pathological fractures of the proximal humerus who underwent interlocking IM nailing and cement augmentation. Functional scores and pain relief were assessed as outcomes. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 14.2 months. The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional score and Karnofsky performance status scale score were 27.7 and 75.6, respectively. Improvement of pain assessed using the visual analogue scale was 6.2 on average. Thirty-one patients (97%) experienced no pain after surgery. The mean ranges of forward flexion and abduction were 115° and 112.6°, respectively. All patients achieved stability and had no local recurrence without failure of fixation until the last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Proximal interlocking IM nailing with cement augmentation appears to be a reliable treatment option for pathological or impending fractures of the proximal humerus in selected patients with metastatic tumors, even with extensive bone destruction.
Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary* ; Fractures, Spontaneous* ; Humans ; Humerus* ; Karnofsky Performance Status ; Methods ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence

In order to investigate the efficacy and safety of oral cilazapril, a new angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, on essential hypertension, a single daily dose of 2.5 to 5.0mg cilazapril was administered in 30 hypertensive patients with diastolic blood pressure in the range of 95??15mmHg while off all other anti-hypertensive agents for 10 weeks. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured every 2 weeks. The complete blood count with platelet count, blood chemistry by SMA-12 including lactic dehydrogenase and serum electrolytes, and urinalysis were performed at 4th and 10th week of therapy. The electrocardiography was performed at the beginning and the end of treatment period. Any kinds of side effects were actively questioned by the examining physicians. The following results were obtained : 1) The mean age was 49.2 years, and the ratio of male-to-female was 1 : 1.3. 2) Blood pressure started to fall significantly within 2 weeks of treatment with cliazpril 2.5mg(M+/-S.E., 15.4+/-17.4mmHg vs 138.5+/-23.3, 100.3+/-6.2 vs 89.4+/-6.6, p<0.05), and after 6 weeks of treatment with a mean dosage of 2.84mg. diastolic blood pressure of all subjects was maintained below 90mmHg throughout the rest of trial. 3) Pulse rate or body weight were not significantly changed during the entire treatment period(69.3+/-6.0/min vs 10th week : 69.0+/-7.7, 64.7+/-7.4kg vs 63.6+/-6.7, p>0.05). 4) There were no significant changes in blood chemistry including blood sugar, cholesterol and electrolytes, except mild changes of serum creativine and alkaline phosphatase values. 5) Hematologic findings, urinalysis and electrocardiographic findings remained unchanged. 6)Side effects were mostly mild in nature without potentially serious episodes(dry cough : 20%, indigestion, headache, dizziness, in order), but there was 1 cases in whom the dosage was redyced due to postural hypotension. From the above results, cilazapril with the dosage of 2.5 to 5.0mg was effectvie and well tolerated in essential hypertensive patients with diastolic blood pressure of 95 to 115mmHg, and cilazapril seems to be appropriate for monotherapy of mild to moderate hypertensive patients.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Cell Count ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Chemistry ; Cholesterol ; Cilazapril* ; Cough ; Dizziness ; Dyspepsia ; Electrocardiography ; Electrolytes ; Headache ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypotension, Orthostatic ; Oxidoreductases ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Platelet Count ; Urinalysis

No abstract available.

The Mayer-Rokitansky-K ster-Hauser syndrome represents a spectrum of m llerian anomalies, including vaginal agenesis with or without renal anomalies, in genotypically and phenotypically normal female subjects with normal endocrine status. We experienced a case of this anomaly which combined with unilateral renal agenesis and pelvic cystic mass in child.
Child* ; Female ; Humans

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Tuberculosis, Renal* ; Ureter*

BACKGROUND: In the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, measurement of CK-MB is widely used as an enzyme test, but it needs special instruments, lacks specificity in the presence of concomitant skeletal muscle injuries, and has narrow diagnostic time window. Cardiac specific troponin T-a new marker for the diagnosis of myocardial injury-is now available. Besides the quantitative assay, rapid qualitative asay is also possible with the development of rapid assay Kit. We studied about the efficacy of the Troponin T rapid assay Kit in early doagnosis of actue myocardial infarction in the emergency room. METHODS: Total Ck, Ck-MB, LDH and serum troponin T activities were determined when the patients arrived at the emergency room and at the same time Troponin T rapid assay kit test was done. Final diagnosis was made through the serial measurement of CK, CK-MB and LDH. Diagnostic efficacy of each rest was evaluated. RESULTS: Overall diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of Troponin T rapid assay kit were 0.97 and 0.91. When evaluated only with the initial results, Troponin T rapid assay kit showed sensitivity 0.87, specificity 0.97, serum troponin T 0.75, 0.92, and Ck-Mb 0.81,0.95. In one patient who was finally diagnosed as a septic shock, Ck-MB was elevated but serum troponin T was not and Troponin T rapid assay kit test showed negative result. CONCLUSION: Troponin T rapid assay kit test seems to show nearly the same sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction compared to CK-MB. This test can be done simply and easily in a short time. Thus, with the use of this test, morbidity, mortality and economic loss due to misdiagnosis and delay of diagnosis of myocardial infarction might be reduced.
Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Early Diagnosis* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Mortality ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Shock, Septic ; Troponin T* ; Troponin*

PURPOSE: This study was performed to compare the clinical characteristics of 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) [A(H1N1) pdm09] and seasonal influenza A infection in the pediatric cancer patients. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed in the pediatric cancer patients who had confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09 infection at Samsung Medical Center from August 2009 to February 2010. For the comparison, the medical records of pediatric cancer patients with seasonal influenza A from January 2000 to May 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Eighty-two A(H1N1)pdm09 infections were confirmed in the pediatric cancer patients. Ten patients (12.2%) developed complicated clinical course by lower respiratory infections or extrapulmonary infections; 4 pneumonia, 1 bronchitis, 1 pericarditis with pneumonia, 1 encephalitis with pneumonia, 2 meningitis and 1 pericarditis. Three patients received mechanical ventilator and ICU care. Three pediatric cancer patients (3.7%) died. The risk factors related to complicated A(H1N1)pdm09 infections were date of infection (44-45th week 2009) and nosocomial infection. When comparing with previous seasonal influenza A infections, more prompt and aggressive antiviral therapy was given in A(H1N1)pdm09 infections. CONCLUSION: The A(H1N1)pdm09 infections caused a various clinical manifestations including fatal cases in pediatric cancer patient during pandemic season. There was no significant difference in clinical course between influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and seasonal influenza A infections except the antiviral treatment strategy.
Bronchitis ; Child ; Cross Infection ; Encephalitis ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Medical Records ; Meningitis ; Pandemics ; Pericarditis ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Seasons ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A blood transfusion is almost inevitable in neonatal cardiac surgery. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using autologous cord blood for a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) priming as an alternative to an allo-transfusion in neonatal cardiac surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From January 2012 to December 2014, cord blood had been collected during delivery after informed consent and was stored immediately into a blood bank. Eight neonatal patients had their own cord blood used for CPB priming during cardiac surgery. RESULTS: All patients underwent surgery for their complex congenital heart disease. The median age and body weight at surgery was 11 days (from 0 to 21 days) and 3.2 kg (from 2.2 to 3.7 kg). The median amount and hematocrit of collected cord blood was 72.5 mL (from 43 to 105 mL) and 48.7% (from 32.0 to 51.2%). The median preoperative hematocrit of neonates was 36.5% (from 31.0 to 45.0%); the median volume of CPB priming was 130 mL (From 120 to 140 mL). Seven out of eight patients did not need an allo-transfusion in CPB priming and only one neonate used 20 mL of packed red blood cells in CPB priming to obtain the target hematocrit. CONCLUSION: Autologous cord blood can be used for CPB priming as alternative to packed red blood cells in neonatal congenital cardiac surgery in order to reduce allo-transfusion.
Blood Banks ; Blood Transfusion ; Body Weight ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Erythrocytes ; Fetal Blood* ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Informed Consent ; Thoracic Surgery*