Purpose: Urolithiasis is a common disease that can cause acute pain and complications. The objective of this study was to develop a deep learning model utilizing transfer learning for the rapid and accurate detection of urinary tract stones. By employing this method, we aim to improve the efficiency of medical staff and contribute to the progress of deep learning-based medical image diagnostic technology. Methods: The ResNet50 model was employed to develop feature extractors for detecting urinary tract stones. Transfer learning was applied by utilizing the weights of pretrained models as initial values, and the models were fine-tuned with the provided data. The model’s performance was evaluated using accuracy, precision-recall, and receiver operating characteristic curve metrics. Results: The ResNet-50-based deep learning model demonstrated high accuracy and sensitivity, outperforming traditional methods. Specifically, it enabled a rapid diagnosis of the presence or absence of urinary tract stones, thereby assisting doctors in their decision-making process. Conclusions This research makes a meaningful contribution by accelerating the clinical implementation of urinary tract stone detection technology utilizing ResNet-50. The deep learning model can swiftly identify the presence or absence of urinary tract stones, thereby enhancing the efficiency of medical staff. We expect that this study will contribute to the advancement of medical imaging diagnostic technology based on deep learning.

PURPOSE: It is well known that alcoholics with hepatic cirrhosis exhibit alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis as well as vitamins and trace element deficiencies leading to an inadequate testicular function, which is related to impotence and infertility. Several studies on chronic alcoholics have revealed that alcohol exerts cytotoxic effect at the testicular level. However, the exact mechanisms of alcohol cytotoxicity on testicular cells have not been clarified. In this study, it was determined whether or not alcohol induces apoptosis in Leydig cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Leydig cells, TM3, were grown in culture. The cells were exposed to various alcohol (Ethanol) concentrations for 3 hours, ranging from 50mM to 500mM. The cells without alcohol treatment served as the controls. The cell viability and proliferative activities were determined using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The apoptotic cellular changes were assessed by 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay, which were confirmed with a DNA fragmentation assay. A further investigation with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), caspase-3 enzyme assay, and Western blot analysis was performed. RESULTS: The MTT assay revealed that alcohol induces Leydig cell cytotoxicity in a concentration dependent manner. Alcohol treatment resulted in definitive apoptotic features including DNA fragmentation, increased caspase-3 enzyme activity, mRNA expression, and protein. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, alcohol was shown to induces typical apoptosis on Leydig cells via caspase-3 activation. It is suggested that alcohol-induced apoptosis is one of the important mechanisms in male urogenital disorders including erectile dysfunction and infertility. Further studies to clarify the detailed mechanisms of alcohol-induced apoptosis on Leydig cells are recommended.
Alcoholics ; Apoptosis* ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Line* ; Cell Survival ; DNA Fragmentation ; DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase ; Enzyme Assays ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Infertility ; Leydig Cells ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; Vitamins

PURPOSE: The present study investigated the effects of the type 5 phosphodiesterase(PDE-5) inhibitor, vardenafil on oxytocin expression in the paraventricular nucleus(PVN) of the hypothalamus were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Spargue-Dawley rats received a 2-week oral treatment with vardenafil(0.25 mg/kg/day oral adminstration, n=5) or(0.5 mg/kg/day oral adminstration, n=5) or(1 mg/kg/day oral adminstration, n=5) or (2 mg/kg/day oral adminstration, n=5) or control(n=3). Oxytocin expression in the paraventricular nucleus was measured. These experiments were performed in the absence of sexual stimulation for at least 36 hours before the experiments. RESULTS: The number of oxytocin-positive cells in the PVN was 46.88+/-15.46/section in the control group, 61.42+/-26.37/section in the 0.25 mg/kg vardenafil-treated group, 78.00+/-33.44/section in the 0.5 mg/kg vardenafil-treated group, 78.81+/-37.18/section in the 1 mg/kg vardenafil-treated group and 94.61+/-57.38/section in the 2 mg/kg vardenafil-treated group. The number of oxytocin-positive cells in the PVN increased in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Daily vardenafil administration increases expression of oxytocin in the PVN in a dose-dependent fashion in the absence of sexual stimulation. Thus, these results imply that the PDE-5 inhibitor vardenafil has a direct effect on the erectile pathway in the central nervous system in the absence of sexual stimulation.
Animals ; Central Nervous System ; Hypothalamus ; Oxytocin* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus* ; Rats* ; Vardenafil Dihydrochloride

PURPOSE: The present study investigated the effects of the type 5 phosphodiesterase(PDE-5) inhibitor, vardenafil on oxytocin expression in the paraventricular nucleus(PVN) of the hypothalamus were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Spargue-Dawley rats received a 2-week oral treatment with vardenafil(0.25 mg/kg/day oral adminstration, n=5) or(0.5 mg/kg/day oral adminstration, n=5) or(1 mg/kg/day oral adminstration, n=5) or (2 mg/kg/day oral adminstration, n=5) or control(n=3). Oxytocin expression in the paraventricular nucleus was measured. These experiments were performed in the absence of sexual stimulation for at least 36 hours before the experiments. RESULTS: The number of oxytocin-positive cells in the PVN was 46.88+/-15.46/section in the control group, 61.42+/-26.37/section in the 0.25 mg/kg vardenafil-treated group, 78.00+/-33.44/section in the 0.5 mg/kg vardenafil-treated group, 78.81+/-37.18/section in the 1 mg/kg vardenafil-treated group and 94.61+/-57.38/section in the 2 mg/kg vardenafil-treated group. The number of oxytocin-positive cells in the PVN increased in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Daily vardenafil administration increases expression of oxytocin in the PVN in a dose-dependent fashion in the absence of sexual stimulation. Thus, these results imply that the PDE-5 inhibitor vardenafil has a direct effect on the erectile pathway in the central nervous system in the absence of sexual stimulation.
Animals ; Central Nervous System ; Hypothalamus ; Oxytocin* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus* ; Rats* ; Vardenafil Dihydrochloride

Although the autogenous vein graft is the most reliable in the fields of microvascular reconstruction, the microvascular allograft and microvascular prosthesis have been developed to be substitute for autogenous vein because it has many problems. In many experimental study have been reported highly variable patency rate and its thrombogenetic property of microvascular allograft. Especially, antigenicity of the homogenous vessels and immune reaction-induced thrombosis are main cause of homogenous microvascular anastomosis failure. For that reason, several investigators have attempted to reduce the antigenicity and improve the patency rate of microvascular allograft. The purpose of this study was to observe the healing process in applying frozen arterial allograft in the rats. In order to perform this study, 27 Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 300gm or more selected. 12 carotid arterial anastomoses were performed in the rats by using microvascular end-to-end anastomosis as control group and 15 frozen(-196degreesC) arterial allografts were implanted into the carotid artery in the rats by using microvascular anastomosis as experimental group. The experimental rats were sacrificed on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th, 28th, 56th day after operations. For scanning electron microscopic study, fixation was performed by perfusion of 2.5% glutaraldehyed-2% paraformaldehyed in 0.1M phosphate buffer at pH7.3. The specimens were post-fixated in 1% osmium tetraoxide for 2 hours, washed with cacodylate buffer, dehydrated in a series of ascending ethanol baths, critical point dried, coated with gold in a vacuum evaporator, and observed with a scanning electron microscope(JEOL, JSM-840-A, 20kV). For histologic examination taken specimens were embedded in paraffin, sectioned 6-8micrometer in thickness. The specimens were stained with hematoxylin-eosin stain method, examined under light microscope. The results were as follows; 1. The patency rate of control group was 92% and experimental group was 86%. 2. Endothelial cells regeneration at the anastomosis site of both group was partially appeared on the 1st week after experiment. 3. On the 2nd week after experiment, anastomosis site was completely covered with regenerated endothelial cell in both group, and the endothelial cell proliferated toward the graft at experimental group. 4. On the 4th, 8th week after experiment, the grafted artery was partially covered with endothelial cell at experimental group.
Allografts* ; Animals ; Arteries ; Baths ; Cacodylic Acid ; Carotid Arteries ; Endothelial Cells ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Osmium ; Paraffin ; Perfusion ; Prostheses and Implants ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Regeneration ; Research Personnel ; Thrombosis ; Transplants ; Vacuum ; Veins

It is generally accepted that 1-3% of all inguinal hernias involve the bladder. However herniation of the bladder deep into the scrotum is rare. We report a case of massive bladder hernia of paraperitoneal type in a 58-year-old male with scrotal pain and palpable scrotal mass. Treatment consisted of partial cystectomy and herniorrhaphy. The postoperative result was good without complications.
Cystectomy ; Hernia* ; Hernia, Inguinal ; Herniorrhaphy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Scrotum* ; Urinary Bladder*

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is relatively uncommon, arising outside the central nervous system. Very rarely, it occurs within the urinary system. A 55-year-old woman presented with gross hematuria and right flank pain which had begun two months earlier. A well-marginated, low-density mass containing high-density portions representing hemorrhage was seen in the right kidney at pre-enhanced CT; contrast enhancement was not prominent. At both T1- and T2- weighted MR imaging, a multilocular cystic mass with high signal intensity portions representing hemorrhage was observed. Contrast enhancement was absent. We report the radiologic findings in this case of renal PNET.
Central Nervous System ; Female ; Flank Pain ; Hematuria ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Kidney* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate diaphragmatic motion via M-mode ultrasonography and to correlate it with pulmonary function in stroke patients. METHODS: This was a preliminary study comprised of ten stroke patients and sixteen healthy volunteers. The M-mode ultrasonographic probe was positioned in the subcostal anterior region of the abdomen for transverse scanning of the diaphragm during quiet breathing, voluntary sniffing, and deep breathing. We analyzed diaphragmatic motion and the relationship between diaphragmatic motion and pulmonary function. RESULTS: All stroke patients had restrictive pulmonary dysfunction. Compared to that exhibited by control subjects, stroke patients exhibited a significant unilateral reduction in motion on the hemiplegic side, primarily during volitional breathing. Diaphragmatic excursion in right-hemiplegic patients was reduced on both sides compared to that in control subjects. However, diaphragmatic excursion was reduced only on the left side and increased on the right side in left-hemiplegic patients compared to that in control subjects. Left diaphragmatic motion during deep breathing correlated positively with forced vital capacity (rho=0.86, p=0.007) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (rho=0.79, p=0.021). CONCLUSION: Reductions in diaphragmatic motion and pulmonary function can occur in stroke patients. Thus, this should be assessed prior to the initiation of rehabilitation therapy, and M-mode ultrasonography can be used for this purpose. It is a non-invasive method providing quantitative information that is correlated with pulmonary function.
Abdomen ; Diaphragm ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Healthy Volunteers ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Methods ; Rehabilitation ; Respiration ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Stroke* ; Ultrasonography ; Vital Capacity

Nasal obstruction is a cause of respiratory distress in newborns. The congenital nasal airway obstructive abnormalities are classified into three forms according to the location: posterior choanal atresia, nasal cavity stenosis and congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis(CNPAS). CNPAS is located at the anterior part of the nasal fossa. CT is the study of choice to make the diagnosis of CNPAS and rule out other causes of nasal obstruction. Though conservative management of CNPAS is recommended, in cases of severe CNPAS surgical treatment should be considered. Calcification of cartilage in the larynx, trachea and bronchi is extremely rare in children. Such calcifications are generally discovered in young children with congenital stridor. The clinical course is favorable. No case with CNPAS and tracheal calcification is reported in newborn. We report a one-day-old girl with CNPAS and tracheal calcification who presented with respiratory difficulty immediately after birth.
Bronchi ; Cartilage ; Child ; Choanal Atresia ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Larynx ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Obstruction ; Parturition ; Respiratory Sounds ; Trachea