No abstract available.
Hyperlipoproteinemias*

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis is an extremely rare benign inflammatory disease of the gall bladder characterized by yellowish focal nodular appearance with tissue necrosis and lipid-containing histiocyte (xanthomacell). Recently, we experienced a case of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis. A 71-year old woman was admitted with the complaints of RUQ pain for 1 month. On abdominal ultrasound examination, there were diffuse gallbladder wall thickening, echogenic nodule with acoustic shadow, the calculous cholecystiti and the gall badder cancer were strongly suspected and the operation was performed. At operation the gall bladder was marked enlarged and wall thickening with two brownish, oval shaped, smooth surfaced stones. The specimen was revealed a xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis by the pathology.
Acoustics ; Aged ; Cholecystitis* ; Female ; Gallbladder ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Pathology ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder

PURPOSE: In early 1980s, vasectomy was performed in more than 10 thousand men of reproductive age annually without cost as a South Korean government policy of birth control, but because the policy has been converted to encouraging childbirth since July 2004, vasovasostomy is now covered by national health insurance. We investigated the effect of national health insurance coverage of vasovasostomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From August 1997 to June 2009, a total of 117 patients who underwent vasovasostomy were enrolled in this study. We divided the patients into two groups. The 63 patients undergoing the procedure before national health insurance coverage were included in group A, and the other 54 patients, who underwent the procedure after insurance coverage began, were classified into group B. The two groups were compared according to age, spouse's age, time since vasectomy, number of children at the time of vasectomy, occupation, educational attainment, religion, and the reason for vasovasostomy. RESULTS: The average number of cases of vasovasostomy was almost 3 times higher after insurance coverage was introduced, at 2.3 cases per month. The average spouse's age was significantly higher in group B than group A (35.2+/-4.8 vs. 32.2+/-3.5, p=0.012). Time since vasectomy was shorter in group B than group A (5.7+/-4.7 years vs. 8.9+/-5.0 years, p=0.001). Number of children at the time of vasectomy showed no significant difference between group A and group B, at 1.7+/-0.7 and 1.6+/-0.8 respectively. Cross tabulation analysis of occupation, educational status, religion, and the reason for vasovasostomy showed no significant difference. The patency rate was significantly higher in group A than group B (87.3% vs. 90.7%, p=0.012), but there was no significant difference in pregnancy rate. CONCLUSIONS: A significant increase was seen in patency rate, but not in pregnancy rate, after insurance coverage. However, further follow up will show us that a rise in the patency rate promises positive effects on the rise of pregnancy rate. We suggest that insurance coverage for vasovasostomy has encouraged an increase in births.
Child ; Contraception ; Educational Status ; Humans ; Insurance Coverage ; Insurance, Health ; Male ; National Health Programs ; Occupations ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Vasectomy ; Vasovasostomy

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ozone is an environmentally reactive oxidant, and pycnogenol is a mixture of flavonoid compounds extracted from pine tree bark that have antioxidant activity. We investigated the effects of pycnogenol on reactive nitrogen species, antioxidant responses, and airway responsiveness in BALB/c mice exposed to ozone. METHODS: Antioxidant levels were determined using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Nitric oxide (NO) metabolites in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from BALB/c mice in filtered air and 2 ppm ozone with pycnogenol pretreatment before ozone exposure (n = 6) were quantified colorimetrically using the Griess reaction. RESULTS: Uric acid and ascorbic acid concentrations were significantly higher in BAL fluid following pretreatment with pycnogenol, whereas gamma-tocopherol concentrations were higher in the ozone exposed group but were similar in the ozone and pycnogenol pretreatment groups. Retinol and gamma-tocopherol concentrations tended to increase in the ozone exposure group but were similar in the ozone and pycnogenol pretreatment groups following ozone exposure. Malonylaldehyde concentrations increased in the ozone exposure group but were similar in the ozone and pycnogenol plus ozone groups. The nitrite and total NO metabolite concentrations in BAL fluid, which parallel the in vivo generation of NO in the airways, were significantly greater in the ozone exposed group than the group exposed to filtered air, but decreased with pycnogenol pretreatment. CONCLUSIONS: Pycnogenol may increase levels of antioxidant enzymes and decrease levels of nitrogen species, suggesting that antioxidants minimize the effects of acute ozone exposure via a protective mechanism.
Animals ; Antioxidants/*pharmacology ; Ascorbic Acid/metabolism ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity/chemically induced/metabolism/*prevention & control ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/chemistry ; Bronchoconstriction/drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Flavonoids/*pharmacology ; Inhalation Exposure ; Lung/*drug effects/enzymology/physiopathology ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress/*drug effects ; *Ozone ; Uric Acid/metabolism ; Vitamin A/metabolism ; alpha-Tocopherol/metabolism

PURPOSE: We investigated erectile and ejaculatory function after penile prosthesis implantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 121 patients were enrolled in the surgery group (SG) and 120 patients in the nonsurgery group (NSG). All subjects were evaluated by use of the following questionnaires: the erection function and intercourse satisfaction domains of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and the ejaculation domain of the Male Sexual Health Questionnaire (MSHQ-EjD). Comparisons were made between the SG and the NSG, by prosthesis types, and of postoperative periods and complication rates for each prosthesis type. RESULTS: Differences in the erection function and intercourse satisfaction domains of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-EF and IIEF-IS) between before and after treatment were significantly higher in the SG group than in the NSG group (p=0.02, 0.03, respectively). When comparing prosthesis types, differences in the erection confidence and intercourse satisfaction items between before and after surgery were significantly higher in the SG group (p=0.03, 0.04, respectively). In the comparison of each prosthesis type by postoperative period, differences in the IIEF-EF and IIEF-IS between before and after surgery were not statistically significant but the MSHQ-EjD domain after surgery was significantly lower in cases of >5 years (p=0.02, 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Subjective symptoms such as erectile confidence and erectile function were improved more in the SG group than in the NSG group, especially in the inflatable group. It appeared that there was no significant difference in improvement in ejaculatory function depending on the treatment method, but that ejaculatory function decreased as time passed.
Ejaculation ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Erection ; Penile Implantation ; Penile Prosthesis ; Postoperative Period ; Prostheses and Implants ; Reproductive Health

BACKGROUND: Medication adherence (MA) is poor among patients with chronic illnesses, such as those involving the risk factors of stroke. However, the impacts of poor MA on the modifiable risk factors of stroke are not well known. METHODS: We evaluated the MA for the control of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and previous ischemic stroke among consecutive patients with ischemic stroke within 7 days of symptom onset. Nonadherence was defined as taking doctor-prescribed medications for less than 3 weeks during the previous month. Demographic data, risk factor profile, stroke mechanism, and baseline score on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were compared among patients with nonadherence and those without. RESULTS: Among 1133 patients with at least one medicated risk factor, the rates of nonadherence in hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and previous ischemic stroke were 18.5%, 15.3%, 30.3%, and 28.1%, respectively. Overall, 27.4% of patients with more than one risk factor presented nonadherence, with a predilection toward being male (male, 63.9% vs. female, 56.1%, p=0.02) and younger (mean age 64.9 years vs. 66.4 years, p=0.01). Stroke severity according to MA did not differ using either crude analysis (NIHSS score: 5.5+/-5.9 vs. 5.4+/-5.5, p=0.71) or multivariable analysis after log transformation. The prevalence of nonadherence was low for large-artery disease and small-vessel occlusion, and high for cardioembolism. CONCLUSIONS: Prestroke poor MA for the major risk factors was common among patients with chronic illnesses, and was more frequent in younger male patients. Stroke severity was not affected by MA during the month preceding stroke.
Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Male ; Medication Adherence ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Stroke

A dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the retroperitoneum is an extremely rare tumor. A 51-year old man was admitted to our department because a retroperitoneal mass was seen on abdominal computed tomography at another hospital. Computed tomography of the abdomen and magnetic resonance imaging showed a large pelvic mass located in the right hemipelvis, and it was pushing the right ureter and invading the right kidney, duodenum, colon and inferior vena cava. The patient underwent right radical nephrectomy, pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenectomy, right hemicolectomy and artificial blood vessel replacement for the inferior vena cava. The histopathological diagnosis was dedifferentiated liposarcoma and the patient was free from recurrence on the computed tomography that was done 6 months after the operation.
Abdomen ; Blood Substitutes ; Colon ; Duodenum ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liposarcoma ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nephrectomy ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Pylorus ; Recurrence ; Ureter ; Vena Cava, Inferior

We saw a case of minoxidil induced pericardial effusion in a 36 years old female who developed generalized edema, weakness and hypertrichosis after taking minoxidil for 1 year. Her chest PA showed globular shaped cardiac enlargement and pulmonary congestion. Echocardiography of the heart showed moderate amount of pericardial effusion. 10 days later after cessation of the drug administration and conservative managements, her chest PA showed marked improvement of heart size and pulmonary congestion. 20 days later her blood pressure became normal with the continued use of other antihypertensive drugs.
Adult ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Pressure ; Echocardiography ; Edema ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertrichosis ; Minoxidil* ; Pericardial Effusion* ; Thorax

PURPOSE: We investigated the follow-up result and patient satisfaction after testicular prosthesis implantation by the 11-item questionnaire. MATERIALS & METHODS: Among 29 patients who underwent testicular prosthesis implantation between January 2000 and April 2009, 24 patients who spent over 6 months after surgery and agreed to this investigation were enrolled in this study. All the patients were evaluated specially designed questionnaires retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean age of subjects was 23.2+/-7.1 years and mean follow-up duration was 48.9+/-24.5 months. The domains about size, position, shape, weight and comfort of prostheses showed positive responses with 70.8%, 66.7%, 58.3%, 66.7% and 70.8%, respectively. And 87.5% of the patients replied that they got increased selfconfidence postoperatively. In accordance with this study, all of them would recommend the operation to other patients who suffering from loss of testis. CONCLUSIONS: Testicular prosthesis implantation showed simple surgical procedure with low complication rate. It seemed to recover patients'psychiatric trauma and also encourage self-confidence in social life.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Patient Satisfaction ; Prostheses and Implants ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Stress, Psychological ; Testis

No abstract available.
Female ; Ovary*