PURPOSE: We investigated the possible inhibitory effect of aspirin during the initiation and post initiating stages on N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN) induced bladder carcinogenesis in female rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. Group A received 0.05% BBN in drinking water for 12 weeks. Group B re ceived 0.05% BBN in drinking water with 0.5% aspirin in the diet for 12 weeks. Group C received control diet without added chemicals. The rats were sacrificed after 12 weeks. For identification of chemopreventive effect of aspirin, apoptosis was detected by in situ cell death detection method. The apoptotic index (AI) was calculated from the ratio of typical apoptotic cells relative to the total cells from observation of at least 1000 cells in each preneoplastic lesion among the groups. RESULTS: All cases of group A showed multiple lesions of simple and focal hyperplasia. The incidence of papilloma was 80% in group A. All cases of group B also showed multiple lesions of simple and focal hyperplasia but the incidence of papilloma was decreased to 20%. The total numbers counted of focal hyperplasia and papilloma lesions were significantly reduced in group B than in group A (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). The mean AI in group A and B sequentially increased in preneoplastic lesions, as compared to that in the normal epithelium of the rat bladder. Significant differences in AI in the lesions of simple and focal hyperplasia between group A and B were noted (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The result suggests that aspirin significantly decreases the incidence of precancerous lesions and it can act as a chemopreventive agent for precancerous lesions of urinary bladder.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Aspirin* ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Death ; Diet ; Drinking Water ; Epithelium ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Incidence ; Papilloma ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder*

No abstract available.
Endometriosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis* ; Ureter* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: Testicular rupture is a surgical emergency which command immediate repair. If surgery is delayed, a hematoma causes severe pain and loss of spermatogenesis as well as hormonal functions. Scrotal ultrasonography has been helpful in early diagnosis of testicular rupture. But disadvantage of ultrasonography include a relatively low signal-to-noise level, tissue nonspecificity, lack of contrast media, a small field of view, and dependence on the operators skill and the patients physique. Also the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity or specificity of scrotal ultrasonography was variable in regard to authors. And so, a diagnostic accuracy of scrotal ultrasonography was evaluated in scrotal trauma. METHODS: We reviewed 38 patients of scrotal trauma from May, 1994 to March, 1998. 6 patients were treated conservatively following scrotal sonography and 10 patients treated only surgical exploration without ultrasonography. Surgical exploration was performed in 22 case, which were evaluated by ultrasound before surgical treatment. In a such 22 cases, diagnostic accuracy of scrotal ultrasonography was evaluated. RESULTS: We compared ultrasound before treatment with surgical exploration finding in a such 22 cases. The ultrasonographic features in 7(31.8%) out of 22 cases, which showed testicular ruptured, but surgical exploration revealed testicular rupture in 5 and epididymal rupture in 1, simple hematocele in 1. In 15(68.2%) out of 22 cases the simple hematocele was diagnosed by ultrasonography, but surgical finding feature in of the 7 cases revealed testicular rupture, epididymal rupture in 1, simple hematocele in 7. The sensitivity and specificity for the ultrasonography are 42.9% and 87.5%, and the positive and negative predictive values are 86.5% and 46.7%, respectively. Ultrasonography is low sensitive in identifying testicular rupture. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography include a relatively low signal-to-noise level, tissue nonspecificity, lack of contrast media, a small field of view, and dependence on the operators skill and the patients physique. Therefore, early surgical exploration for saving the testis should be performed that sonographically by seeing hypoehoic peripheral lesions and disappearance of normal ovoid form of testis, hematocele in scrotal sac.
Contrast Media ; Early Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Hematocele ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Male ; Rupture ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis ; Ultrasonography*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of acupuncture on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) at acupoints suggested by oriental medicine to be related to the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rest/acupuncture-stimulation Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT using a same-dose subtraction method was performed on 54 normal volunteers (34 males, 20 females, age range from 18 to 62 years) using six paradigms: acupuncture at acupoints GV. 20, GV. 26, LI. 4, ST. 36 and SP. 6. In the control study, needle location was chosen on a non-meridian focus 1 cm posterior to the right fibular head. All images were spatially normalized, and the differences between rest and acupuncture stimulation were statistically analyzed using SPM for Windows . RESULTS: Acupuncture applied at acupoint GV. 20 increased rCBF in both the anterior frontal lobes, the right frontotemporal lobes, and the left anterior temporal lobe and the left cerebellar hemisphere. Acupuncture at GV. 26 increased rCBF in the left prefrontal cortex. Acupuncture at LI. 4 increased rCBF in the left prefrontal and both the inferior frontal lobes, and the left anterior temporal lobe and the left cerebellar hemisphere. Acupuncture at ST. 36 increased rCBF in the left anterior temporal lobe, the right inferior frontal lobes, and the left cerebellum. Acupuncture at SP. 6 increased rCBF in the left inferior frontal and anterior temporal lobes. In the control stimulation, no significant rCBF increase was observed. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated a correlation between stimulation at each acupoint with increase in rCBF to the corresponding brain areas.
Acupuncture Points* ; Acupuncture* ; Brain* ; Cerebellum ; Female ; Frontal Lobe ; Head ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Needles ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Temporal Lobe ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

PURPOSE: To report a case of IgG4-related sclerosing disease involving the eyelid in an idiopathic sclerosing myositis patient. CASE SUMMARY: A 51-year-old woman presented with swelling, redness, and tenderness of the left lower eyelid of 1 month duration had taken an immunosuppressant for idiopathic sclerosing myositis. Eye movements showed limitation all directions but there was no exophthalmos. A palpable mass was noted in the left lower eyelid. The left extraocular muscles were hypertrophied but the lacrimal gland was normal on orbital magnetic resonance imaging. IgG4-related sclerosing disease was confirmed by immunostained biopsy from the left lower eyelid, showing infiltration of IgG4-positive lymphoplasmacytic cells. The patient was given oral steroids and an immunosuppressant and the symptoms did not recur for at least 7 months. CONCLUSIONS: IgG4-related sclerosing disease involving ocular adnexa usually consists of bilateral lacrimal gland involvement. Additionally, the orbital soft tissue involvement without dacryoadenitis is rare. The authors of the present study report a case of IgG4-related sclerosing disease involving the left lower eyelid in an idiopathic sclerosing myositis patient and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of eyelid masses.
Biopsy ; Dacryocystitis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Exophthalmos ; Eye Movements ; Eyelids* ; Female ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Muscles ; Myositis* ; Orbit ; Steroids

Holt-Oram Syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the association of upper-limb abnormalities and congenital heart disease. A woman with no family history of genetic disease underwent antenatal sonography at 27 weeks' menstrual age to screen for fetal anomalies. Ultrasonography revealed abnormalities in the upper limbs. The limb abnormalities included abscence of bilateral thumbs and radius: the left humus was short. Pregnancy termination was performed. The postnatal chromosomal analysis revealed a normal 46XX karyotype and the autopsy finding confirmed the Holt-Oram syndrome. We report a case of Holt-Oram Syndrome in fetus with unaffected parents with brief of the literatures.
Autopsy ; Extremities ; Female ; Fetus ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Parents* ; Pregnancy ; Radius ; Soil ; Thumb ; Ultrasonography* ; Upper Extremity

PURPOSE: This study investigates both the current situation and future trends in the field of refractive surgery in Korea. METHODS: Members of the Korean Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (KSCRS) have been annually surveyed regarding cataract and refractive surgery since 1995. The 2004 annual survey, which consisted of 58 multiple-choice questions, was mailed in May 2004 to 322 KSCRS members; fifty-four (16.8%) members responded. Data from the 2004 survey was compared with that of previous annual surveys and similar studies from the USA. RESULTS: The respondents indicated that patients in their forties accounted for the highest percentage (57%) of subjects, and LASIK accounted for the highest percentage (82%) of refractive surgeries. Degeneration of corrected vision, night halo, and glare accounted for a high proportion of the complications arising after refractive surgery. LASIK was the preferred method for treating myopia less than -12 diopters, while phakic IOL was preferred for myopia more than -12 diopters. Lastly, more respondents indicated that they had experienced legal problems associated with PRK or LASIK than the previous year. CONCLUSIONS: LASIK remains the refractive surgery procedure of choice, although wavefront-guided ablation is gaining in popularity. Approximately half of the respondents indicated they used MMC in their refractive surgeries.
Cataract ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Glare ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Korea* ; Myopia ; Night Vision ; Postal Service ; Refractive Surgical Procedures*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

No abstract available.
Nipples* ; Paget's Disease, Mammary*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of conjugated hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on dry eye syndrome in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Thirty-six healthy postmenopausal women (72 eyes) were included in this three-month prospective study. Schirmer test, tear film break-up time (BUT), fluorescein staining score and symptom score were performed on all patients at the time of enrollment, one month and three months after initiation of HRT. All patients received HRT consisting of conjugated estrogen and progesterone taken orally in a continuous combined regimen. RESULTS: Symptom score significantly decreased from 2.10+/-0.79 before HRT to 1.32+/-0.84 after one month and to 0.88+/-0.67 after three months (p<0.001). In addition, tear film BUT measurements significantly increased from 6.04+/-2.54 seconds to 7.99+/-2.43 seconds after one month and to 8.93+/-2.20 after three months (p<0.001). The fluorescein staining score was 0.94+/-0.71 before HRT and decreased to 0.42+/-0.60 after one month and to 0.22+/-0.42 after three months (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Hormone replacement therapy consisting of conjugated estrogen and progesterone significantly improved the symptoms and signs of dry eye syndrome in postmenopausal women.
Dry Eye Syndromes ; Estrogens ; Female ; Fluorescein ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Progesterone ; Prospective Studies ; Tears