PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of the BTA TRAK assay and to compare it with that of voided urine cytology in the detection of bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TRAK was evaluated two groups of patients. Bladder cancer group was comprised of patients wit histologically confirmed active bladder cancer. The second group of patients had a history of bladder cancers but were considered to have no evidence of disease on basis of cystoscopic evaluation of bladder and/or biopsy. Sensitivity was determined in urine samples from patients with histologically confirmed bladder cancer. Specificity was determined in samples from patients who had a history of bladder cancer but no current evidence of disease. RESULTS: BTA TRAK assay was positive in 21 of 24 samples from patients with diagnosed bladder cancer. The sensitivity of BTA TRAK assay (87.5%) was significantly higher than that of voided urine cytology (45.8%). According to grade, the sensitivity of BTA TRAK assay was significantly higher than that of voided urine cytology in urine samples from patients with grade 1 bladder cancer. The specificity of BTA TRAK assay was 80% in patients who had a history of bladder cancer but no current evidence of disease. CONCLUSIONS: The BTA TRAK assay is superior to voided urine cytology in the detection of bladder cancer. The difference of the sensitivity was statistically significant(p<0.05). The results of this study indicate that BTA TRAK assay is a useful adjunct to cystoscopy in the detection of bladder cancer and useful monitoring tool of bladder cancer.
Biopsy ; Cystoscopy ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

Hypertrophic lichen planus is rare chronic variant of this disease, usually occurs on the lower extremities especially the shins, and associated with severe itching sensation. We report a case of localized hypertrophic lichen planus with bilateral hyperkeratotic polygonal violaceous papuloplaques on both upper eyelids and dorsa of hands and lace-like patches in oral mucosa. The patient had been treated with triamcinolone acetonide intralesional injection at two week intervals, two times and topical steroid after then the lesion had significantly improved.
Eyelids ; Hand ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional* ; Lichen Planus* ; Lichens* ; Lower Extremity ; Mouth Mucosa ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; Triamcinolone*

This article presents a description of the ultrasonographic and computed tomographic findings with a discussion on the imaging features in three patients with epigastric hernias, simulating abdominal wall lipomas. Ultrasonogram showed a heterogeneous hypoechoic mass encircled by echogenic rim within subcutaneous space of the abdominal wall. Computed tomographic findings were a localized fatty mass surrounded by a thin capsule in as sociation with a focal discontinuity of the linea alba. Ultrasonogram was not diagnostic, but computed tomogram was suggestive because of the well demonstrated focal defect in linea alba.
Abdominal Wall ; Hernia* ; Humans ; Lipoma ; Ultrasonography*

No abstract available.

Treatment modalities of gastric variceal bleeding are endoscopic injection sclerotherapy, endoscopic variceal ligation, combined above two method, operation, TIPS, and percutaneous transhepatic embolization. Recently, Histoacryl was introduced as a new sclerosant of acute variceal bleeding failed by others. So, we studied 18 cases of acute gastric variceal bleeding uncontrolled by EIS using Ethanolamine oleate. Intravariceal injection of Histoacryl is considered as a safe and effective method for hemostasis of intractable acute gastric variceal bleeding uncontrolled by other sclerosants. But, it is important that endoscopist should be in harmony with assistant at injection of Histoacryl. And its shooting speed should be fast because of clogging within the catheter. It is necessary to do long term study for evaluation of eradication effect in acute gastric variceal bleeding.
Catheters ; Cyanoacrylates ; Enbucrilate ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Ethanolamine* ; Hemostasis ; Ligation ; Oleic Acid* ; Sclerosing Solutions ; Sclerotherapy*

The effects of BCG and vitamin A acetate, either alone or in combination were studied on rats with bladder tumors induced by N-butyl -N-(4 -hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine. Therapy was started at week 12 and all rats were sacrificed at week 20. Vitamin A acetate therapy significantly reduced the mean number of tumors and the incidence of bladder cancer. The combination of vitamin A acetate and intraperitoneal BCG therapy, more effectively reduced the mean number of bladder tumors and the incidence of bladder cancer than vitamin A acetate therapy alone did. BCG therapy also significantly reduced the mean number of tumors and the incidence of bladder cancer. The difference between the effect of intraperitoneal BCG injection and that of intravesical BCG was not statistically significant. The combination therapy of BCG and vitamin A acetate more effectively reduced the mean number or tumors than BCG therapy along did. The incidence of bladder cancer was also reduced though the statistical significance was not definite (p =0.07). The above results suggest that vitamin A acetate and BCG therapy after initiation of precancerous lesions, alter favorably the course of the experimental bladder cancers in rats and the combination of the two does more effectively.
Animals ; Bacillus* ; Incidence ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Rats ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder* ; Vitamin A* ; Vitamins*

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of aerobics and aquarobics exercise programs on elders' leg muscle strength, balance and walking ability in elders. The participants of the study were 21 elders; 11 of them participated in the aerobics exercise program and 10 of them participated in the aquarobic exercise program. METHODS: Both of the participants practiced for 10 weeks. The data were analyzed with using two-way ANOVA with repeated measures on the last factor. RESULTS: The results were summarized as follows: First, the main effect of exercise programs(aerobics x aquarobics) and the interaction effect between the exercise programs and the leg muscle strength were not significant. Second, the participants' static balance of the aquarobics exercise program increased more than that of the aerobics exercise program. Third, the participants' dynamic balance of the aquarobics exercise program increased more than that of the aerobics exercise program. Fourth, the main effect of exercise programs and the interaction effect between the exercise programs and the increase in gait speed were not significant. Fifth, the participants' step length of aquarobics exercise group increased more than that of the aerobics exercise program. All of the participants' leg muscle strength, static balance, dynamic balance, gait speed and step length increased after the both of two exercise programs. And, more importantly, the positive effect of the aquarobics exercise program on static balance, dynamic balance and step length was stronger than that of the aerobics exercise program. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the aquarobics exercise program be more effective exercise on elders' balance and walking ability than the aerobics exercise program.
Gait ; Leg* ; Muscle Strength* ; Walking*

No abstract available.
Scrub Typhus*

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the prevalence and composite score of the neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with mild cognitive impairment(MCI), and dementia of Alzheimer's type(AD). The aim of this study is to analyze the correlation between the result of Korean Neuropsychiatric Inventory(K-NPI) and cognitive function. METHODS: A total of 163 patients diagnosed with MCI or AD was divided into three groups(55 MCI patients, 56 dementia patients with mild stage, and 52 dementia patients with moderate, severe stage). We examined neuropsychiatric symptoms by K-NPI and compared the prevalence and composite score of each subdomain in K-NPI among three groups. RESULTS: The most common symptoms in the MCI group were depression/dysphoria, sleep/night-time behavior, anxiety, and irritability/lability. In mild AD group, the most frequent disturbance was agitation/aggression, depression/dysphoria, anxiety, apathy/indifference, and sleep/night-time behavior. In moderate to severe AD group, the most frequent disturbance was apathy/indifference, depression/dysphoria, agitation/aggression, and delusion. The frequencies of delusion, hallucination, agitation/aggression, apathy/indifference, aberrant motor behavior, appetite/eating change were statistically significant. The total NPI score showed a negative correlation with MMSE-KC and a positive correlation with GDS. CONCLUSIONS: Neuropsychiatric symptoms are common features of MCI and AD. These symptoms observed in MCI are similar to those of mild AD. Psychosis is most common in moderate to severe AD, leading to a faster rate of cognitive decline. Therefore, proper management according to the neuropsychiatric symptoms of MCI and three stages of dementia is needed.
Anxiety ; Delusions ; Dementia ; Hallucinations ; Humans ; Mild Cognitive Impairment ; Prevalence ; Psychotic Disorders

OBJECTIVES: Mild cognitive impairment(MCI) and dementia of Alzheimer's type(AD) are characterized by progressive decline of cognitive abilities and a wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms like depression. Among various diagnostic tools of AD, many studies showed that elevated levels of serum total homocysteine are associated with increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. We investigated whether elevated homocysteine concentrations are associated with depressive symptoms in MCI and AD. METHODS: A total of 86 patients diagnosed with MCI or AD participated. Total serum homocysteine levels in fasting blood samples were measured. We examined cognitive symptoms by MMSE-KC, Global Deterioration Scale(GDS), Clinical dementia rating(CDR) and depressive symptoms by Korean version of Geriatric Depression Scale(K-GDS). RESULTS: The total serum homocysteine levels were significantly higher in MCI with depression than in MCI without depression. There was no significant difference in the mean homocysteine levels between AD patients with depression and AD patients without depression. The total homocysteine levels showed a negative correlation with MMSE-KC and a positive correlation with CDR, GDS. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that elevated homocysteine level is a risk factor for the decline of cognitive function and depression. We found a significant relationship between elevated serum homocysteine level and depressive symptoms in MCI. But our study had several limitations, thus more research is needed to confirm this finding.
Alzheimer Disease ; Dementia* ; Depression* ; Fasting ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Mild Cognitive Impairment* ; Neurobehavioral Manifestations ; Risk Factors