PURPOSE: The cause and pathogenesis of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in elderly men is unclear. We analyzed the clinical and urodynamic findings of elderly patients with LUTS to search for accurate diagnosis and effective treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of 154 male patients older than 65 years old with LUTS who underwent urodynamic studies between January 2002 and December 2008. The patients were divided into irritative and obstructive symptom groups according to their chief complaints. The urodynamic findings between two groups were compared. And the prevalence of detrusor dysfunction (either detrusor underactivity; DU or detrusor overactivity; DO) according to age, history of urinary retention, the presence of an indwelling urethral catheter, neurologic disease, or diabetes was estimated. RESULTS: The mean age of men was 70.8+/-4.5 years. On urodynamics, detrusor dysfunction was detected in 116 (75.4%) of 154 patients. Seventy eight (50.6%) patients showed demonstrable evidence of DU of whom 33 (21.4%) had concomitant DO, while 18 (11.7%) had concomitant bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). BOO and DO was identified in 67 (43.5%) and 71 (46.1%) patients, respectively. The prevalence of was significantly greater in the presence of history of acute urinary retention and an indwelling urethral catheter. CONCLUSION: One hundred forty one (91.6%) elderly patients with LUTS showed urodynamic abnormalities such DO, DU and BOO. Urodynamic study would play a important role in establishing a correct diagnosis in elderly patients with LUTS and deciding on additional treatments.
Aged ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms* ; Male ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; Urinary Catheters ; Urinary Retention ; Urinary Tract ; Urodynamics*

Pheochromocytoma originate from chromaffin cells and occur in the adrenal medulla in majority. About 10 per cent of pheochromocytomas can occur in the ectopic or extra-adrenal sites, anywhere along the fetal route of the chromaffin tissues. Pheochromocytoma of the bladder is a rare neoplasm that often occurs with the unique symptom complex of micturitional attacks, such as headache, palpitation, hypertension of sweating due to increased catecholamine secretion during detrusor activity. We report a very rare case of nonfunctioning pheochromocytoma of the bladder in a 67- year-old woman without typical symptoms. Preoperatively elevated urine catecholamines and their metabolites returned to normal after removal of the tumor.
Adrenal Medulla ; Catecholamines ; Chromaffin Cells ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Urinary Bladder*

No abstract available.
Humans*

A histopathological study of erythema nodosum-like lesions in Behcet's disease was performed on 55 patients with incomplete and suspect types of Behcet's disease. Relatively common characteristics in histopathology of erythema nodosum-like lesions could be found in the patients with incomplete type of Behcet's disease. The histopathologic findings of erythema nodosum-like lesions in 21 patients with incomplete type of Behcet's disease were as follows : l. A moderate lymphocytic infiltration was found around the blood vessels and the sweat glands in the dermis. In the subcutaneous tissue, besides lymphohistiocytic infiltration, neutrophils were present in significant number in 9 cases (42.9%) 2. Vasculitis of small vessels was found within the periphery of fat lobules in 7 cases (81.0%), Five cases (23.8%) also showed thrombophlebitis. Seven cases (33.3%) showed histiocytic granuloma formation within the fat lobules. Microabscess formation in the subcutaneous tissue was seen in 5 cases (23.8 %), but it was not certain whether this was the charateristic feature.
Blood Vessels ; Dermis ; Erythema Nodosum* ; Erythema* ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Sweat Glands ; Thrombophlebitis ; Vasculitis

The gag encoded p24 protein of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) is a major constitutent of the viral core, and is also known as one of the most immunodominant antigens in the host immune response against the HIV-1. Based on the neutralizing ability of anti-p24 antibodies as well as their rapid appearance in human serum after viral infection, the development of vaccines and diagnostic tools targeting the p24 protein and anti-p24 antibodies is of great interest. For the characterization of the immunological properties of the HIV-1 p24 protein, in a previous study, putative B-cell epitopes were identified by screening the reactivity of a goat anti-p24 antiserum to a large array of overlapping synthetic peptides covering the whole p24 sequence. Four peptides were identified for their abilities to elicit a strong B-cell response, which sequences comprises the regions p24 (164-182), (202-221), (217-236) and (232-256), respectively. In the present study, the immunogenicity and differential properties of each of these individual epitopes were further characterized. To evaluate the time course of the antibody response, BALB/c mice were immunized with the HIV-1 p24 protein and their serum titers against each of these peptides were determined. The earliest immune response was observed against the p24 (202-221) peptide, which also showed the highest antibody titer against the immunized antigen. Furthermore,. enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with HIV-1 p24 protein coated microtiter plates revealed that anti-p24 (202-221) antiserum has the most pronounced reactivity against the native p24 protein. Since the p24 (202-221) epitope has also been reported to include a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitope, it is suggested that this region might represent a powerful antigenic site responsible for eliciting both T- and B-cell immune response. The possible application of this specific epitope in vaccine development or AIDS diagnosis is discussed.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Antibody Formation ; B-Lymphocytes ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epitopes* ; Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte ; Goats ; HIV* ; HIV-1 ; Humans ; Immunodominant Epitopes ; Mass Screening ; Mice ; Peptides* ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; Vaccines

Retinal detachment is a rare and unusual complication of preeclampsia. In 6,194 consecutive deliveries from January 1987 to July 1990 at the Soonchunhuang University Hospital, pregnancy induced hypertension was diagnosed in 223 patients(3.6%), and in 11 cases serous retinal detachment occured. We studied retrospectively the incidence, clinical characteristics and pathophysiology of the retinal detachment in the pregnany induced hypertension. The results were as follows: 1. Retinal detachment was serous type and mostly bilateral(90.9%). 2. Retinal detchment occured principally in primigravid(63.64%). 3. Serotts retinal detachment occured in 11 cases in 6,194 consecutive diliveries(0.18%) with 9 cases in 211 preeclampsia(4.27%) and 2 cases in 12 eclampsia(17.67%). 4. Reattachment of the retina occured at an interval of 7 to 29 days with an average interval of 14 days after delivery. 5. The fluorescein angiographic findings provide clinical evidence that retinal detachment in pregnancy induced hypertension is secondary to choroidal damage.
Choroid ; Female ; Fluorescein ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; Incidence ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy* ; Retina ; Retinal Detachment* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Retrospective Studies

Retinal detachment is a rare and unusual complication of preeclampsia. In 6,194 consecutive deliveries from January 1987 to July 1990 at the Soonchunhuang University Hospital, pregnancy induced hypertension was diagnosed in 223 patients(3.6%), and in 11 cases serous retinal detachment occured. We studied retrospectively the incidence, clinical characteristics and pathophysiology of the retinal detachment in the pregnany induced hypertension. The results were as follows: 1. Retinal detachment was serous type and mostly bilateral(90.9%). 2. Retinal detchment occured principally in primigravid(63.64%). 3. Serotts retinal detachment occured in 11 cases in 6,194 consecutive diliveries(0.18%) with 9 cases in 211 preeclampsia(4.27%) and 2 cases in 12 eclampsia(17.67%). 4. Reattachment of the retina occured at an interval of 7 to 29 days with an average interval of 14 days after delivery. 5. The fluorescein angiographic findings provide clinical evidence that retinal detachment in pregnancy induced hypertension is secondary to choroidal damage.
Choroid ; Female ; Fluorescein ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; Incidence ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy* ; Retina ; Retinal Detachment* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Leiomyoma*

Purpose: To verify the anti-microbiotic activity and to develop eco-friendly surface disinfectants using the Opuntia ficus-indica extract. Methods: The stem and fruits of the Opuntia cultivated in Jeju Island were extracted with hot water, 70% EtOH and 100% MeOH, respectively. To examine the antimicrobial activity of the extracts, gram positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus), gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium), yeast (Candida albicans), mold (Aspergillus flavus) and antibiotic resistant bacteria (E. coli, S. aureus) were measured to form a clear zone. Results: The antibacterial activity of the fruit extract was higher than that of the stem extract, and the antibacterial activity of the 100% MeOH (FM) extract and the 70% EtOH (FE) extract of the palm cactus fruit was suitable for the surface disinfectant overall, and clear-zone formed even at relatively low concentrations (250 mg/mL). The FM and FE have antibacterial activity against various bacteria, therefore they can be used as disinfectants. Conclusion The antimicrobial activity of Opuntia ficus-indica extract from Jeju Island by stem and fruit was determined at relatively low concentrations (250 mg/mL). The Opuntia ficus-indica extract will be useful for surface disinfectants dissolving the patients’ bath, oral gargling, and powdered powder in water or ethanol in appropriate concentrations.

Background: This study aimed to identify the self-efficacy and self-care behaviors in patients with an unruptured intracranial aneurysm who have undergone coil embolization. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to 143 patients who were diagnosed with unruptured intracranial aneurysm and visited the outpatient department of radiology for follow-up management after performing coil embolization at a tertiary hospital, Seoul. The self-efficacy and self-care behaviors were measured using self-reported questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed with independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation using the SPSS/win 26.0 statistical programs (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA). Results: The mean score of self-efficacy in patients with an unruptured intracranial aneurysm was 3.49±0.55 out of 5. The mean score of self-care behaviors was 3.69±0.66 out of 5. The self-efficacy exhibited statistically significant differences depending on the size and number of the cerebral aneurysms and the presence of such aneurysms remaining after treatment. There was a positive correlation between self-efficacy and self-care behaviors (r=0.37, P=0.001). Regression analysis revealed that the patient's self-care behaviors of the patients was explained by self-efficacy (β=0.37, P<0.001) and these variables explained 13.3% of the variance in self-care behaviors (F=22.86, P<0.001). Conclusions In order to increase self-care behaviors, it is necessary to develop self-efficacy interventions so that an unruptured intracranial aneurysm who have undergone coil embolization can effectively cope with various difficulties during treatment course.