PURPOSE: Benign prostate hyperplasia(BPH) can be treated with alpha1-adrenergic blocker that relaxes prostate smooth muscle or 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor that reduces serum dirtydrotestosterone. The efficacy of the combination of 5 alpha -reductase inhibitor(finasteride) and alpha1-adrenergic blocker(doxazosin) was evaluated in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty five patients with BPH was treated and followed over 6 months and divided into three groups: Group 1(doxazosin 3mg/day), Group 2(finasteride 5mg) and Group 3(combination of both drugs). Initially, all patients were evaluated by international Prostatic Symptom Score(IPSS: irritative, obstructive, sum, life quality), uroflowmetry, residual urine, serum prostate specific antigen(PSA) and prostate weight by transrectal ultrasonography. IPSS, uroflowmetry and complications were evaluated every month. Residual urine and PSA were assessed at every 3 months, prostate weight at every 6 months. RESULTS: In Group 1 and 3, IPSS were more decreased than In Group 2 immediately(p < 0.001). In Group 1 and 3, maximal flow rate was more increased than in group 2 immediately(p < 0.001). There was no difference of mean change of residual urine among three group. In Group 2 and 3, serum prostate specific antigen and prostate weight were more decreased than in Group 1 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In medical treatment of BPH, the combination therapy of alpha1-adrenergic blocker and 5alpha-reductase inhibitor shows early symptomatic improvement and decreased prostate weight without significant complications.
Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase ; Humans ; Hyperplasia* ; Muscle, Smooth ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: We evaluated the long-term outcome of a readjustable midurethral sling system (Remeex) in the treatment of recurrence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after surgical treatment or SUI with intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 19 patients who underwent the Remeex procedure with a mean of 45.6 months of follow-up. The patients had responded to a telephone questionnaire. Thirteen patients had ISD, four patients had SUI recurrence, and two patients had both. The questionnaire included subjective cure and satisfaction surveys and also recommended surgery to some patients. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 69.1 years (range, 50-85 years), the mean parity was 2.79 times (range, 2-5 times), and the mean follow-up period was 45.6 months (range, 21-72 months). The long-term follow-up cure rate was 79%, the improvement rate was 21%, and the fail rate was 0%. The long-term follow-up "very satisfactory" rate was 26.3%, the "satisfactory" rate was 73.7%, and the "usual" and "unsatisfactory" rates were both 0%. In addition to these results, 16 patients (84.2%) would recommend the Remeex procedure to other patients with SUI recurrence or ISD. After the procedure, four patients had urinary retention, three patients had difficulty emptying, and one patient had SUI recurrence. Furthermore, all of the patients subsequently endured sling readjustments. CONCLUSIONS: After long-term follow-up, the Remeex system showed good cure rates and subjective satisfaction rates that were similar to the results found at the 1-year follow-up, and minimal complications were reported. Therefore, the Remeex system is effective in treating patients with SUI recurrence or ISD.
Female* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Parity ; Questionnaires ; Recurrence* ; Suburethral Slings ; Telephone ; Urinary Incontinence* ; Urinary Retention

Neurilemmomas of the trachea are extremely rare. The most common site of them is the distal third of the trachea and the age of the patients at presentation varied from 6 to 78 years old. They usually have a freqeuntly very long natural history, causing symptoms only after they have attained a considerable size. We experienced a case of near-total obstruction of the trachea by an intraluminal sessile neurilemmoma. The patient was a 66-year-old man with 2-year history of progressive exertional dyspnea and had several episodes of pneumonitis associated with productive cough. Grossly, the tumor was a well-circumscribed mass. Microscopically, typical cellular Antoni A and myxoid Antoni B areas were revealed.
Aged ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Natural History ; Neurilemmoma* ; Pneumonia ; Trachea

PURPOSE: To compare extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and ureteroscopic removal of stone (URS) on the basis of success rate, cost effectiveness, safeness, cause of failure, complication, and auxiliary procedures in treating ureteral stones larger than 1cm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2001 to April 2005, 72 cases were treated with URS using 7.5Fr or 9.5Fr rigid ureteroscopy and 110 cases with in situ Direx Compact ESWL. The mean stone sizes of URS and ESWL were 12.8mm and 13.1mm, respectively, and all were larger than 10.0 mm. RESULTS: In the URS, the overall success rate and the mean operative time were 88.9% (64/72 cases) and 68 minutes, respectively. According to stone site, the success rates of upper, mid and lower ureteral stones were 83.3% (15/18 cases), 84.6% (11/13 cases) and 92.6% (38/41 cases), respectively. The first session and total treatment, stone-free rates for ESWL were 34.5% (38/110 cases) and 79.0% (87/110 cases), respectively. The complication rates associated with URS and ESWL were 13.8% (10/72 cases) and 11.8% (13/110 cases), respectively. All complications were managed successfully with conservative treatment. Overall costs were similar for both modalities, but detailed cost analysis (e.g. follow-up loss patient) was not performed. CONCLUSIONS: Both URS and ESWL are effective treatments for stones larger than 1cm, but ureteroscopy with intracorporeal lithotripsy is the more efficient and cost effective method.
Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Costs and Cost Analysis ; Lithotripsy* ; Operative Time ; Shock* ; Ureter* ; Ureteral Calculi ; Ureteroscopy

PURPOSE: The Remeex (Mechanical External Regulation) sling is a mid-urethral sling that allows adjustment of the sling tension in the postoperative period. We evaluated the early outcomes of the procedure in patients in whom the success rate of tension-free slings is low, such as with intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 17 women with urodynamically proven stress urinary incontinence (SUI) who underwent the Remeex procedure and were followed for at least 12 months. The patients were considered to have ISD on the basis of a Valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP) <60 cmH2O or a maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) <20 cmH2O. We analyzed parameters including history taking, urodynamic study (UDS), and postoperative clinical outcomes. Patient's success and satisfaction rates were evaluated after the procedure. Also, we asked about lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) with a questionnaire, and the severity of LUTSs was assessed with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before and 12 months after the operation. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 55.6+/-9.58 years. Four (23.5%) patients had mixed incontinence. Five patients (29.4%) had undergone previous surgery for SUI. At a mean follow-up of 13.3 months (range, 12-16 months), 14 patients (82.3%) were cured and 3 patients (17.6%) were improved. Four patients (23.5%) answered very satisfied and 13 patients (76.4%) answered satisfied on the satisfaction questionnaire. Also, LUTSs were improved except voiding pain (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This procedure provides high cure and satisfaction rates. Our results demonstrate that the Remeex procedure is suitable for women with SUI with ISD.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Postoperative Period ; Suburethral Slings ; Urinary Incontinence ; Urodynamics

OBJECTIVES: To understand the importance of the serum level of Ca-125 among pelvic mass, we performed a study. METHOD: From January to December 1998, we performed the study. Before hysterectomy, we performed a blood sampling to know the serum level of Ca-125, After hysterectomy, we weighed the uterus and measured the thickness of endometrium and other histologic characteristics. RESULTS: We performed my research to 80 peoples. The relation between uterine weight and the serum level of Ca-125 is little, if ever(R2=0.0007), and the relation between the thickness of endometrium and the serum level of Ca-125 is also little, if ever(R2=0.0353). The relation between leiomyoma, the cycle of endometrium and the serum level of Ca-125 were also little, but there was a close relationship between adenomyosis and the serum level of Ca-125. CONCLUSION: There was little relationship between uterine weight and the serum level of Ca-125.
Adenomyosis ; Endometrium ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Leiomyoma ; Uterus

PURPOSE: We reviewed the incidence, causes, location, treatment and prognosis of the severe iatrogenic ureteral avulsions caused by ureteroscopy procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the records of eight patients with ureteral avulsion out of 683 patients treated with ureteroscopic procedures, retrospectively. The patients had surgical correction or ureteral double-J stenting for the iatrogenic ureteral avulsions. RESULTS: The incidence of ureteral avulsion was 1.17%. While seven cases occurred during ureteroscopic removal of a stone, five cases among them occurred during stone basketing and two cases occurred during insertion of the ureteroscope. Another case among eight avulsion cases occurred while removing the during an endopyelotomy for a ureteral stricture. Depending on the length of the ureteral avulsion, four cases were over 2cm, the patientsopen surgical repair for ureteral continuity restoration immediately; three cases, under 2cm, were treated with indwelling ureteral double J stents, and one case with an injury to the entire ureter was treated with a nephrectomy. The result of the surgical treatment as the initial treatment was good in all cases. On the other hand, among the three cases with an inserted ureteral double-J stent, one case had aresult and the other two developed hydronephrosis. CONCLUSION: Careful attention to surgical techniques and awareness of risk factors and types of potential injuries are essential to reduce severe iatrogenic ureteral avulsions. Our reports suggest that open surgical repair is better than an indwelling ureteral double-J stent for patients with a ureteral avulsion.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Hand ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Incidence ; Nephrectomy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stents ; Ureter* ; Ureteroscopes ; Ureteroscopy

No abstract available.
Cell Line* ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

Fatal complications including cerebral edema and neurologic collapse occur during treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis(DKA). A 6-week-old female infant with fever, dehydration and drowsy mental status was diagnosed as DKA and neurologically deteriorated during treatment. The cranial computed tomography scan revealed multifocal brain infarctions of the left caudate nucleus, bilateral frontal periventricular white matter, and right parietal cortex. A moderate amount of hemorrhage was also noted in both lateral ventricles. She recovered rapidly with supportive treatment over time. The clinical course and radiologic findings of this patient emphasize the importance of brain infarction as a cause of persistent neurologic loss in children with DKA.
Brain Edema ; Brain Infarction* ; Brain* ; Caudate Nucleus ; Child ; Dehydration ; Diabetic Ketoacidosis* ; Female ; Fever ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Lateral Ventricles ; Rabeprazole

Purpose : To evaluate the short term result of the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure in conjunction with vaginal hysterectomy in patients with concurrent stress incontinence and gynecological diseases. Materials and Methods: All patients (32 women) underwent the TVT procedure in conjunction with vaginal hysterectomy between June 2001 and April 2003. Preoperative histories, subjective questionnaires of the degree of incontinence, physical examinations, one hour pad tests and full urodynamic testing were evaluated. The postoperative clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction and complications were checked after 3-months. Results: Thirty-two women who met the study criteria were identified. The mean follow-up time, parity, age, operating time and length of hospital stay were 9.2 months, ranging from 3 to 18 months, 2.6, ranging from 1 to 5, 52.5 years, ranging from 40 to 68, 73 minutes, ranging from 55 to 122 minutes and 4.3 days, ranging from 3 to 9 days, respectively. From the questionnaires, 22 patients were found to be mildly incontinent, 7 moderately incontinent and 3 severely incontinent. All patients were cured of gynecological disease. All cases of mild, 5 of moderate and 2 of severe incontinence were cured. The three remaining patients improved. Twenty-eight patients were satisfied after the operation and 1 had intraoperative bladder perforation. Conclusions: The TVT procedure in conjunction with a vaginal hysterectomy for stress incontinence with other gynecologic disease is considered safe and efficacious, although a longer follow-up will be necessary to determine the long term effect.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genital Diseases, Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal* ; Length of Stay ; Parity ; Patient Satisfaction ; Physical Examination ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Suburethral Slings* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Incontinence, Stress ; Urodynamics