Candida albicans keratitis was established in rabbits by intrastromal injection of a suspension containing 1.2 X 10(4) spores. After a 48-hour incubation period, the animals were treated with oral ketoconazole(10mg/kg daily) alone and in combination with topical ketoconazole(2% solution ten times a day) for 2 weeks. Clinical scores were significantly lower in both treated groups than in the control group. But there was no significant difference between the two treated groups.
Animals ; Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Keratitis* ; Ketoconazole* ; Rabbits* ; Spores

PURPOSE: The advisability of early ureteral reimplantation in infants is controversial, and to our knowledge no long-term results are available. Whether early ureteral reimplantation in infants increases surgical morbidity, compared to ureteral reimplantation after the age of 1 year, was investigated, and the long-term voiding function after ureteral reimplantation evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1993 and 1999, 130 children underwent ureteral reimplantation at our institution. The diagnosis was a primary vesicoureteral reflux, obstructed megaureter and an ectopic ureter. Two groups of 64 children that underwent ureteral reimplantation were compared. Group 1 included children younger than 12 months at surgery and group 2 children those between 1 and 2 years. The long term results were evaluated with regard to surgical outcome, voiding function and urinary tract infection. An analysis of the voiding function included family interviews, uroflowmetry and post-void residual urine measurements. RESULTS: Complete long-term data were available for 47 boys and 17 girls. In Group 1, there were no complications in 50 renal units(96%), while two had postoperative reflux, and underwent macroplastique injection. In Group 2, there were no complications in 35 renal units(97.1%), while one patient had postoperative reflux, which resolved spontaneously. No significant difference was noted in the postoperative post-void residual urine volumes between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In our samples, early ureteral reimplantation resulted in a technical success rate of greater than 95% and low postoperative morbidity, with the exception of urinary tract infection. Our data show satisfactory bladder emptying and normal uroflowmetry. When indicated, ureteral reimplantation can be performed safely in young children, without fear of damaging bladder function.
Child* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant* ; Replantation* ; Ureter* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to know the shisho constitutional distribution of outpatients at the Center for Kampo Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine (the Keio Kampo Center, herein) and to find out if there are differences in the type of diseases and symptoms according to shisho constitution.
Methods : We collected data from 366 outpatients at the Keio Kampo Center. All did a SSCQ-P (shisho Constitution Questionnaire for Patients) to obtain a shisho constitution diagnosis. We then classified their shisho constitutions and surveyed disease and symptom prevalence according to same.
Results : 1 : Among the 366 outpatients, distribution rates for Taiyojin, Syoyojin, Taiinjin, and Syoinjin were 0.8%, 27.3%, 28.7%, and 43.2% respectively. 2 : And the prevalence of V. Mental and behavioral disorders, XI. Diseases of the digestive system, XV. Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium, and Feeling of coldness (under XVIII. Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, NEC) items for Shoinjin were significantly higher than those for the other constitutions. (p < 0.05)
Conclusions : The distribution rate for shisho in 366 outpatients at the Keio Kampo Center was different from that in Korea, with the rate for shoinjin in these outpatients at the Center especially, being significantly higher than that for Koreans. There were also significant differences in the prevalence of some diseases and symptoms in shoinjin group.

PURPOSE: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stimulates angiogenesis and vascular permeability. Tissue damage is related to angiogenesis, and induced by a delay in neutrophil apoptosis. This study was performed to investigate the effect of VEGF on the spontaneous neutrophil apoptosis via the activation of VEGFR-1 and phosphorylation of the p38-MAPK pathway. METHODS: Neutrophils were prepared from 10 healthy young donors, cultured for 20 h, and the apoptosis measured by the morphological changes and flow cytometry. The VEGF receptor expression and phosphorylation of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) were measured using a Western blotting method. RESULTS: VEGF dose-dependently delayed the spontaneous neutrophil apoptosis, but this effect was blocked by pre-treatment of the cells with a VEGF receptor antagonist. VEGF increased the phosphorylated forms of the extracellular stress related kinase (Erk) and p38-MAPK. However, the VEGF-induced delay in apoptosis was not affected by the Erk inhibitor, PD98059 but was affected by the p38- MAPK inhibitor, SB203580. The VEGF receptor-1, but not the VEGF receptor-2, was detected in neutrophils, but its level was reduced in cultured neutrophils. CONCLUSION: VEGF delays neutrophil apoptosis through p38- MAPK activation.
Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Capillary Permeability ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Neutrophils* ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinases ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; Tissue Donors ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1

PURPOSE: We evaluated the clinical significance of simultaneous transurethral resection of bladder tumor(TURB) and the prostate(TURP) in patients who have superficial bladder cancer with bladder outlet obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 1997 to April 2006, 213 patients with superficial bladder cancer were included in this study. The patients were treated with TURB only(n=107, Group I) or TURB with TURP (n=106, Group II). Bladder cancer recurrence was observed by performing cystoscopy and urine cytology. Uroflowmetry was performed three months after surgery. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, the tumor size or the number of tumors between groups I and II. There was no evidence of cancer implantation where TURP was applied. The recurrence rate of group II was significantly lower than that of group I(p=0.044), and the time to recurrence was longer for group II than for group I(p=0.026). There was no significant difference in the progression rate between the two groups(p=0.788). Three months after surgery, the mean residual urine volume was lower for group II(7.9ml) than that for group I(21.7ml). CONCLUSIONS: For superficial bladder cancer patients with bladder outlet obstruction, simultaneous TURB and TURP may help reduce the bladder cancer recurrence rate and delay the time to recurrence without the risk of cancer implantation at the site where TURP is applied.
Cystoscopy ; Humans ; Prostate ; Recurrence ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of Cable plate fixation for the treatment of periprosthetic femoral fracture after hip arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 10 cases of periprosthetic femoral fractures after hip arthroplasty between Nov. 2002 and May 2004. The mean follow up periods were 20 months. The fractures were classified according to Vancouver classification. Seven cases of type B1, one case of type B3 and two cases of type C were treated with open reduction and internal fixation with Cable plate. Evaluation of results was based on mean union time, postoperative complications and Harris hip score. RESULTS: The mean time for bony union was 4.8 months in type B1, 6 months in type B3 and 8 months in type C fracture. As for complications, there were refracture, metal breakage and nonunion. The postoperative mean Harris hip score was 91.5 points for type B1, 85 points for type B3 and 72.5 points for type C fracure. CONCLUSION: Cable plate can be useful for treatment of periprosthetic femoral fractures after hip arthroplasty, but the selection of treatment methods should be cautiously made according to the type of fracture and status of patients.
Arthroplasty ; Classification ; Femoral Fractures* ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications

BACKGROUND: Diffusion-perfusion mismatch (DPM) on MRI has been considered an ischemic penumbra. However, several reports have demonstrated limitation of DPM on MRI as a predictable marker of the ischemic penumbra. In this study, we investigated the relationship between DPM and the clinical progression in acute ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: We consecutively recruited fifty-seven patients showing acute ischemic stroke (within 24 hours) in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory. The clinical outcomes were determined by serial measurement of National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) during 30 days after their ischemic event. We also evaluated the relationship among the parameters of perfusion MRI and the clinical worsening in patients with DPM on initial MRI. RESULTS: Nineteen (33.3%) patients had DPM on MRI within 24 hours after stroke onset. Even though the frequency of clinical worsening for 30 days after stroke onset was higher in DPM group (26%) than in non-DPM group (11%), it did not reach statistical significance (p=0.143). However, extent of MCA stenosis (p<0.001) and time to peak (TTP) delay on MRI (p<0.001) were significantly greater in patients with DPM than in those without DPM. Among several parameters of the perfusion MRI, only relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) was significantly related to the clinical worsening (62.9+/-24.7% vs 96.1+/-19.2%, p=0.007) in patients with DPM. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that DPM on MRI does not always predict the clinical worsening in acute ischemic stroke. To overcome this problem, we should analyze rCBV map based DPM as well as TTP map based DPM.
Blood Volume ; Brain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diffusion ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Perfusion ; Stroke ; Thymine Nucleotides

Primary fetal hydrothorax presents a wide spectrum of severity ranging from small harmless effusions to life-threatening thoracic compression. Management of this condition is controversial. We experienced a case of non-chylous primary fetal hydrothorax not associated with hydrops or other malformations. A predominantly unilateral hydrothorax in a fetus was diagnosed by sonography at 31 weeks gestation. Repeated ultrasonographic examinations to detect development of hydrops or progression of intrapleural effusion were used to evaluate the need for intrauterine thoracentesis and to decide the optimal time for delivery. Two thoracenteses were performed. The baby was delivered at 34 weeks. Postnatal intubation was carried out in the baby, and then chest tube placement was performed and resulted in the collection of 805ml of serous fluid. Sustained intubation was necessary for 16 days because of developing respiratory distress as a result of prematurity and recurrent pleural fluid accumulation. The baby did well after postnatal evacuation of the intrapleural fluid. Pre and postnatal investigation to find the pathophysiological mechanism leading to hydrothorax were negative. We conclude that non-chylous primary fetal hydrothorax is generally associated with a favorable outcome.
Chest Tubes ; Edema ; Fetus ; Hydrothorax ; Intubation ; Pregnancy

PURPOSE: We evaluated the incidence and duration of voiding dysfunction following bilateral detrusorrhaphy to correct vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), and we also evaluated the factors that influence the development of voiding dysfunction and recovery from voiding function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review on 36 children, 27 boys and 9 girls, who showed normal voiding function on preoperative video-urodynamic study and for whom data on post-void residual urine volume (PVR) were available postoperatively. The mean age and duration of follow-up were 3.1 2.6 years and 17.5 10.4 months, respectively. Postoperative voiding dysfunction included urinary retention and incomplete bladder emptying. RESULTS: The overall success rate was 97.2%. The urethral catheter was kept in for a mean period of 4.0 3.6 days. After urethral catheter removal, postoperative voiding dysfunction developed in 24 children and urinary retention developed in 5 children. The differences in age, grade of VUR or sex did not have significant influence on the development of voiding dysfunction. 35 children achieved normal PVR during the postoperative follow-up. The mean time to recovery of voiding function was 34.1 37.9 days. The differences in age, sex or grade of VUR did not have any significant influence on the recovery rate of voiding function. The time to recovery of the voiding function was significantly longer in the patients aged less than 2 years or those patients with bilateral high-grade VUR. However, sex did not significantly influence the time to recovery of voiding function. CONCLUSIONS: The development of postoperative voiding dysfunction is frequent, but temporary. However, it is necessary to consider a longer period of catheterization for the group of patients aged less than 2 years or those patients with bilateral high grade VUR.
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Child* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Replantation ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Catheters ; Urinary Retention ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux*

Gastrointestinal symptoms of Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) are common, but intestinal perforation is very unusual and occurred during steroid therapy in the previous case. We report a CSS showing intestinal perforation, which was caused by a complication of vasculitis.
Churg-Strauss Syndrome ; Intestinal Perforation* ; Vasculitis