PURPOSE: Laparoscopic nephrectomy has become accepted as a method of simple nephrectomy replacing with open nephrectomy in patients in whom a kidney requires removal for benign disease. Laparoscopic nephrecto my is widely performed and extends its indications. We evaluated our experience with the laparoscopic nephrectomy to assess the clinical efficacy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 1996 and September 1999, 23 patients (7 men and 16 women, mean age 44.1 years old) underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy, 16 by women, mean age 44.1 years old) underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy, 16 by the transperitoneal approach and 7 by the retroperitoneal approach. Operative and clinical records were reviewed. The underlying pathological conditions included 20 cases of non-functioning kidney, 2 cases of hypoplastic kidney with complete duplication and ectopic ureter, and 1 case of ureter tumor. Four ports (21 cases, two 12mm ports and two 5mm ports) or 5 posts ( 2 cases, two 12mm ports and three 5mm ports) were used. RESULTS: The laparoscopic procedure were successful in 20 cases (87%). Three patients had open conversion due to unclear anatomy, severe adhesion, and adrenal bleeding. In successful cases, mean operative time was 253+/-83 minutes (range 140-545), mean hospital stay was postoperative 5.2 days. Intraoperative and perioperative complications were noted in 6 patients, including bleeding requiring transfusion in 3, wound infection in 1, severe subcutaneous emphysema in 1, diarrhea in 1. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic simple nephrectomy is feasible, effective, and safe treatment option. It is a less invasive alternative to open surgery providing a more rapid recuperation and superior cosmetic effect.
Diarrhea ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Kidney ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Nephrectomy* ; Operative Time ; Subcutaneous Emphysema ; Ureter ; Wound Infection

Ultrastructural study was taken in a 48 year old male farmer with colloid milium. Electrcn microscopically, colloid was mainly composed of protofilaments, amorphous substance and degenerating collagens surrounded by halos. Colloidal filaments were curved and branched at their ends. Fibroblasts near the colloid island contained amorphous materials and protofilaments idnitical to that of colloid materials, Thus we suggest that. colloid milium may be produced by the abnormal fibroblasts or may be derived from actiinically damaged collagen fibers.
Collagen ; Colloids* ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

No abstract available.
Apolipoproteins* ; Blood Pressure* ; Child* ; Cholesterol* ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Obesity* ; Potassium* ; Sodium* ; Statistics as Topic*

No abstract available.
Angiomyoma* ; Vulva*

No abstract available.
Angiomyoma* ; Vulva*

No abstract available.
Leiomyoma* ; Vulva*

No abstract available.
Leiomyoma* ; Vulva*

BACKGROUND: Infection with respiratory virus has been shown to exacerbate asthma in humans. However, the role of a respiratory virus in the pathogenesis of chronic asthma and/or wheezing in young children has not been clearly defined. The objective of this study was to determine whether respiratory virus infections such as RSV, and influenza A virus are related to the productions of IL-11, IFN-gamma, and ECP levels in nasopharyngeal secretions. METHOD: We compared IL-11, IFN-gamma, and ECP levels in nasopharyngeal secretions from 38 non-asthmatic wheezing children with viral infections (RSV in 21 children, influenza A virus in 17 children), and 16 non-asthmatic healthy children who were included as the controls. IL-11, and IFN-gamma levels were analysed by ELISA. ECP concentrations were measured by monoclonal antibody-based fluorometric assay. RESULT: RSV infection in children induced a greater release of IL-11 in nasopharyngeal secretions than in influenza A virus infection, and in the controls. The release of IFN-gamma levels in nasopharyngeal secretions from children with influenza A virus infection was significantly higher than in nasopharyngeal secretions from children with RSV. ECP levels of subjects with viral infection were significantly higher than in control children. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that RSV is a potent inducer of IL-11 elaboration in nasal epithelium and that IL-11 is an important mediator in the pathogenesis of RSV infection. Increased IFN-gamma production in response to the influenza A virus infection may be related to effective Th1 responses.
Asthma ; Child* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; Humans ; Influenza A virus* ; Influenza, Human* ; Interferon-gamma ; Interleukin-11* ; Nasal Mucosa ; Respiratory Sounds* ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses*

No abstract available in English.
Female ; Humans ; Urinary Incontinence*

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to assess the usefulness of a unilateral x-ray of the kidney, ureter and bladder (hemi-KUB), in the place of a full-KUB, in the follow-up of patients treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), and thereby reduce the radiation exposure for patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 111 patients, who underwent ESWL, between March 2000 and July 2002, were enrolled onto the study. Patients with bilateral stones, or who had changed to another treatment model, were excluded. During the follow-up to the ESWL, we used the hemi-KUB method for the collimation of the radiation field. The numbers of hemi-KUBs during the treatment were recorded. The reductions in the exposure to the radiation dose, per patient, were calculated and analyzed according to the sizes and shapes of the stones. The typical doses were: for IVU (6 films), 2.5mSv; full-KUB film, 0.42mSv; and a hemi-KUB film, 0.21mSv. RESULTS: The total reduction in the doses of radiation exposure was 114.45mSv. The radiation doses, per patient, were reduced by a mean of 1.03+/-0.58mSv. The reduction in the dose of radiation exposure correlated well with the stone size (r=0.7082, p<0.05). The mean number of hemi-KUBs (mean reduction dose of radiation exposure), according to the stone size groups: these being 5-9, 10-19 and +/-20mm, were 3.82+/-1.76 (0.80+/-0.37), 6.52+/-2.10 (1.37+/-0.44) and 11.00+/-3.85 (2.31+/-0.81)mSv, respectively (p<0.05). Also, the mean number of hemi-KUBs (mean reduction dose of radiation exposure), according to the stone shapes, typed into I (less organized or lacy), IIa (spiculated), IIb (mulberry), III (round or ovoid) and IV (struvite or staghorn), were 2.77+/-0.85 (0.58+/-0.18), 4.48+/-1.86 (0.94+/-0.39), 4.83+/-1.43 (1.01+/-0.30), 7.54+/-1.36 (1.58+/-0.29) and 8.75+/-3.72 (1.84+/-0.78)mSv, respectively (p<0.05). Using the receiver operating characteristic curve, the cut-off value, of a stone size that could be used to determine the risk group whose radiation exposure exceeding 5mSv (personal permissible dose/year), was 23.52mm, but when using a full-KUB this was 7.97mm. CONCLUSIONS: The use of hemi-KUB is a simple and easy method to reduce the radiation exposure in the follow-up of an ESWL, especially in patients with stones larger than 7.97mm in size, with a round-ovoid or staghorn shape.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Kidney* ; Lithotripsy* ; ROC Curve ; Shock* ; Ureter* ; Urinary Bladder*