Purpose: To investigate the correlation between nitric oxide (NO) and urodynamics in men with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) by analyzing nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the urothelium. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 25 men who planned to undergo surgical treatment for benign prostatic obstruction and identified as BOO in the preoperative urodynamics. Bladder tissue was taken during surgical prostate resection. Expressions of endothelial NOS (eNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS), and neuronal NOS (nNOS) in the urothelium were analyzed, and their correlation with urodynamic parameters was also assessed in all patients. We also compared the expressions of eNOS, iNOS, and nNOS between BOO with detrusor underactivity (DU) group and BOO without DU group. Results: In all patients, the level of eNOS positively correlated with maximal flow rate and with maximum cystometric capacity (MCC). The level of iNOS positively correlated with MCC. nNOS levels were positively correlated with detrusor pressure at maximal flow and with bladder contractility index in all patients. The level of eNOS, iNOS, and nNOS did not significantly differ between BOO without DU group and BOO with DU group. Conclusions This study suggests that NO was correlated with bladder dysfunction in men with BOO. Particularly, nNOS may reflect the change in detrusor function.

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is an intractable pain disease with various symptoms. Here, we investigated the disease status, work life, sleep problems, medical insurance, economic status, psychological problems, and quality of life (QOL) of CRPS patients. Methods: CRPS patients from 37 university hospitals in South Korea were surveyed.The survey questionnaire consisted of 24 questions on the following aspects of CRPS patients: sex, age, occupation, cause of injury, activities of daily living (ADL), pain severity, sleep disturbance, level of education, economic status, therapeutic effect, and suicidal ideation. Additionally, the abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire, consisting of 26 questions, was used to identify the status of QOL. Results: A total of 251 patients completed the questionnaire. According to the survey, 54.2% patients could not perform ADL on their own. Over the previous week, the mean pain score was 7.15 ± 1.78 (out of a total of 10 points); 92.1% of patients had sleep disorders and 80.5% had suicidal ideation, with most patients suffering from psychological problems. The average for each domain of WHOQOL-BREF was as follows: 21.74 ± 14.77 for physical, 25.22 ± 17.66 for psychological, 32.02 ± 22.36 for social relationship, and 30.69 ± 15.83 for environmental (out of a total of 100 points each). Occupation, ADL, sleep time, therapeutic effect, and suicidal ideation were statistically correlated with multiple domains. Conclusions Most patients had moderate to severe pain, economic problems, limitations of their ADL, sleep problems, psychological problems, and a low QOL score.

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is an intractable pain disease with various symptoms. Here, we investigated the disease status, work life, sleep problems, medical insurance, economic status, psychological problems, and quality of life (QOL) of CRPS patients. Methods: CRPS patients from 37 university hospitals in South Korea were surveyed.The survey questionnaire consisted of 24 questions on the following aspects of CRPS patients: sex, age, occupation, cause of injury, activities of daily living (ADL), pain severity, sleep disturbance, level of education, economic status, therapeutic effect, and suicidal ideation. Additionally, the abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire, consisting of 26 questions, was used to identify the status of QOL. Results: A total of 251 patients completed the questionnaire. According to the survey, 54.2% patients could not perform ADL on their own. Over the previous week, the mean pain score was 7.15 ± 1.78 (out of a total of 10 points); 92.1% of patients had sleep disorders and 80.5% had suicidal ideation, with most patients suffering from psychological problems. The average for each domain of WHOQOL-BREF was as follows: 21.74 ± 14.77 for physical, 25.22 ± 17.66 for psychological, 32.02 ± 22.36 for social relationship, and 30.69 ± 15.83 for environmental (out of a total of 100 points each). Occupation, ADL, sleep time, therapeutic effect, and suicidal ideation were statistically correlated with multiple domains. Conclusions Most patients had moderate to severe pain, economic problems, limitations of their ADL, sleep problems, psychological problems, and a low QOL score.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we manufactured a complex of human nasal septal cartilage (hNC) with polycaprolactone (PCL) for transplantation into cartilaginous skeletal defects and evaluated their characteristics.METHODS: Nasal septum tissue was obtained from five patients aged ≥ 20 years who were undergoing septoplasty. hNCs were isolated and subcultured for three passages in vitro. To formulate the cell–PCL complex, we used type I collagen as an adhesive between chondrocyte and PCL. Immunofluorescence staining, cell viability and growth in the hNC–PCL complex, and mycoplasma contamination were assessed.RESULTS: hNCs in PCL showed viability ≥ 70% and remained at these levels for 9 h of incubation at 4 ℃. Immunostaining of the hNC–PCL complex also showed high expression levels of chondrocyte-specific protein, COL2A1, SOX9, and aggrecan during 24 h of clinically applicable conditions.CONCLUSION: The hNC–PCL complex may be a valuable therapeutic agent for implantation into injured cartilage tissue, and can be used clinically to repair cartilaginous skeletal defects. From a clinical perspective, it is important to set the short duration of the implantation process to achieve effective functional implantation.
Adhesives ; Aggrecans ; Cartilage ; Cell Survival ; Chondrocytes ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Mycoplasma ; Nasal Septum ; Tissue Engineering

BACKGROUND: Intracranial germ cell tumors are higher in the East Asia such as Korea and Japan than any other Western countries. By analyzing common clinical features of intracranial germ cell tumors in children, we will prevent from misdiagnosing and delaying in the establishment of diagnosis. Furthermore, we can choose appropriate therapeutic plans to improve patient's prognosis.METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 68 patients to investigate and analyze clinical characteristics of intracranial germ cell tumors in children.RESULTS: The average age of 68 patients was 14.8 years old, and the male to female ratio in all patients was 3:1. The most common symptom presented by 30 patients was headache regarded as a nonspecific symptom in brain tumors. Sixty four patients were diagnosed by histologic method called biopsy and most of them were come out into germinoma. Thirty five patients were included in low-risk group and 30 patients were in high-risk group. Intracranial germ cell tumors in this study were most commonly located in the pineal gland.CONCLUSION: There are a variety of types in intracranial germ cell tumors, and they have been accurately diagnosed by radiologic, histologic methods and elevated tumor markers. We concluded that it is necessary for early diagnosis to evaluate exhaustively in patients suspected of brain tumors.
Biopsy ; Brain Neoplasms ; Child ; Early Diagnosis ; Far East ; Female ; Germ Cells ; Germinoma ; Headache ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Male ; Medical Records ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Retrospective Studies ; Biomarkers, Tumor

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the associations of non alcoholic fatty liver with metabolic syndrome and the serum carotenoids. METHODS: This study was conducted in a general hospital in South Korea from November, 2004 to August, 2005. The study subjects were 350 sampled persons who were aged from 40 years and older (males: 180, females: 170). They were grouped into the normal, mild and severe groups according to fat accumulation in their livers, as determined by ultrasonography. We analyzed the association between non alcoholic fatty liver and metabolic syndrome by multiple logistic regression analysis and we analyzed the association between non alcoholic fatty liver and the serum carotenoids by a general linear model(ANCOVA). RESULTS: After adjustment for the effect of potential covariates, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was associated with fat accumulation in the liver (p trend <0.001). If the odds ratio of normal group is 1.00, then that of the mild group is 2.80 (95% C.I=1.17-6.71) and that of the severe group is 7.29 (95% C.I=2.76-19.30). The prevalence of metabolic alterations fitting the criteria of metabolic syndrome, according to the class of fat accumulation in the liver, was significantly increased, except for criteria of high blood pressure, a large waist circumference and low HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol level (p trend <0.001). The level of serum beta-carotene was decreased according to the class of fat accumulation in the liver (p trend=0.036), but the levels of serum alpha-carotene, lycopene, bata-cryptoxanthin and lutein were not decreased. CONCLSIONS: This study shows that non alcoholic fatty liver was associated with metabolic syndrome and with the serum beta-carotene level.
Adult ; Carotenoids/*blood ; Fatty Liver/*complications ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*complications ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Regression Analysis

OBJECTIVE: This prospective study evaluated the ability of indirect 16-row multidetector CT venography, in comparison with Doppler sonography, to detect deep vein thrombosis after total hip or knee replacement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two patients had undergone orthopedic replacement surgery on a total of 30 hip joints and 54 knee joints. The CT venography (scan delay time: 180 seconds; slice thickness/increment: 2/1.5 mm) and Doppler sonography were performed 8 to 40 days after surgery. We measured the z-axis length of the beam hardening artifact that degraded the image quality so that the presence of deep vein thrombosis couldn't be evaluated on the axial CT images. The incidence and location of deep vein thrombosis was analyzed. The diagnostic performance of the CT venograms was evaluated and compared with that of Doppler sonography as a standard of reference. RESULTS: The z-axis length (mean +/- standard deviation) of the beam hardening artifact was 4.5 +/- 0.8 cm in the arthroplastic knees and 3.9 +/- 2.9 cm in the arthroplastic hips. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was found in the popliteal or calf veins on Doppler sonography in 30 (48%) of the 62 patients. The CT venography has a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of 90%, 97%, 96%, 91% and 94%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The ability of CT venography to detect DVT was comparable to that of Doppler sonography despite of beam hardening artifact. Therefore, CT venography is feasible to use as an alternative modality for evaluating post-arthroplasty patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; *Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Artifacts ; Female ; Humans ; Leg/*blood supply ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods ; Venous Thrombosis/etiology/*radiography/*ultrasonography

We report a case of an iatrogenic arteriovenous fistula complicated by catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy in a patient with acute deep vein thrombosis of a lower extremity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an arteriovenous fistula between the sural artery and popliteal vein in that situation. As the vessels have a close anatomical relationship, the arteriovenous fistula seems to be a potential complication after endovascular thrombolytic therapy of acute deep vein thrombosis.
Arteries ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Catheterization ; Fistula ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Organic Chemicals ; Popliteal Vein ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Venous Thrombosis

Isoniazid is a first-line drug in the treatment of tuberculosis. A variety of adverse reactions of isoniazid have been reported. These include hepatitis, peripheral neuropathy, skin rashes, neurologic disturbances and hematologic alterations. Among these, acute pancreatitis due to isoniazid is very rare. We report a case of acute pancreatitis due to isoniazid confirmed by rechallenge test with review of some literatures.
Exanthema ; Hepatitis ; Isoniazid* ; Pancreatitis* ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Rifampin ; Tuberculosis