PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to determine whether the clinical presentation of patients with central precocius puberty(CPP) varies according to the etiology, whether this permits the differentiation between idiopathic and organic forms and to examine whether LH determination in a single timed blood sample after GnRH administration is sufficient to diagnose CPP. METHODS: This study included 33 girls with signs of breast development, of whom 23 were diagnosed as definite central precocious puberty. Sixteen patients had idiopathic CPP; the remaining 7 patients had organic CPP. Ten patients were classified as non-CPP. Potential clinical and laboratory predictors of CNS abnormalities were assessed and GnRH stimulation test was done. RESULTS: The age of onset in patients with organic CPP was 4.11+/-2.08 years, whereas the age in patients with idiopathic CPP was 7.25+/-1.34 years. This parameter is the only one showing statistical significance. We compared sensitivities and specificities at 0, 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min which yielded sensitivities of 8.7%, 87.0%, 91.3%, 87.0%, 73.9%, 60.9%. CONCLUSION: It is impossible to exclude a central nervous system lesion in patient with central precocious puberty without performing central nervous system imaging. However, this study indicates earlier the onset of disease, higher the possibility of presence of CNS lesion. According to the mean GnRH stimulated LH levels and sensitivity at each times, a single blood sample obtained for LH determined after GnRH administration at 30 min can be used to diagnose the central precocious puberty.
Age of Onset ; Breast ; Central Nervous System* ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Puberty, Precocious*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Lipectomy*

PURPOSE: The aim of study was to review the results of open surgical repair (OSR) of chronic juxtarenal aortic occlusion (JRAO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the results of OSR performed in 47 patients (male, 92%; mean age, 59.9+/-9.3 years [range, 44-79]) with chronic JRAO during the past 21 years. In order to reduce intraoperative renal ischemic time (RIT), we excised a portion of the occluded segment of the infrarenal aorta without proximal aortic clamping. We then performed suprarenal aortic clamping with both renal arteries clamped, removed the proximal aortic thrombus cap, confirmed both renal artery orifices, and moved the suprarenal aortic clamp to the infrarenal aorta to allow renal perfusion and standard aortoiliac reconstruction. We investigated early (<30 days) postoperative surgical morbidity (particularly renal function), operative mortality, and longterm patient survival. We conducted risk factor analysis for postoperative renal insufficiency. RESULTS: The mean intraoperative RIT was 10.7+/-5.5 minutes (range, 3-25), including 6 patients who underwent concomitant pararenal aortic thromboendarterectomy. Postoperatively, five (11%) patients had transient renal insufficiency, one had pneumonia, and one patient had an acute myocardial infarction. However, there was no operative mortality or newly developed dialysis-dependent renal failure. Postoperative follow up was available in 36 (77%) patients for a mean period of 6.3 years (range, 1 month-17 years). Kaplan Meier calculations of patient survival at 5 and 10 years after surgery were 91.2% and 83.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: We have experienced short RIT, acceptable early postoperative results and long-term survival after OSR of chronic JRAO.
Aorta ; Constriction ; Endarterectomy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Perfusion ; Pneumonia ; Renal Artery ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis

PURPOSE: We expected the motion fraction could be checked, with simple radiographic examination, according to the guide-line of fluoroscopic technique, and recovery of the function also could be correlated with the improvement of the motion fraction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured the motion fraction of the glenohumeral and scapulothoracic movement using fluoroscope in 30-degree intervals of arm elevation in the scapular plane. The ratio of glenohumeral to scapulothoracic movement (thetaGH/thetaST) was 1.6 for the full range of motion in scapular plane. During arm elevation, scapular tilting from the coronal plane was decreased from 42 degrees to 20 degrees tilting as well as internal rotation (scapular extension). We also measured the motion fraction (thetaGH/thetaST) and functional recovery of the shoulder in 11 patients after operative treatment of the shoulder instability in 15 patients from December 1996 to August 1997. RESULTS: We could find out a significant correlation between the recovery of motion fraction and shoulder function. These results would be applied in planing rehabilitation program after treatment of the shoulder instability. CONCLUSIONS: The measuring technique of glenohumeral to scapulothoracic movement (thetaGH/thetaST) with fluoroscopy could be applied to the simple radiographic measurement at the out-patient clinic in order to identify the pathology and recovery of shoulder motion after treatment
Arm ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Pathology ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rehabilitation ; Shoulder*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of brinzolamide 1%/brimonidine 0.2% fixed combination (BBFC) in normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients. METHODS: This prospective study included patients treated with brinzolamide 1% monotherapy, brimonidine 0.2% monotherapy or brinzolamide 1% and brimonidine 0.2% concomitant therapy, as well as newly diagnosed NTG patients. The enrolled patients who used brinzolamide 1% or brimonidine 0.2% switched to BBFC and newly diagnosed NTG patients were treated with BBFC. The patients receiving brinzolamide 1% or brimonidine 0.2% monotherapy or brinzolamide 1% and brimonidine 0.2% concomitant therapy switched antiglaucoma drugs to BBFC. Newly diagnosed NTG patients used BBFC as the first therapy. The study consisted of 1 screening/baseline visit and 3 follow-up visits conducted after 1, 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks of treatment. Intraocular pressure (IOP), mean deviation value and adverse drug reactions were evaluated before treatment and after treatment with BBFC. RESULTS: The mean IOP in the brinzolamide 1% monotherapy group was 13.5 ± 1.6 mm Hg and the mean IOP after switched from brinzolamide 1% monotherapy to BBFC was 12.1 ± 1.5 mm Hg. The mean IOP in the brimonidine 0.2% monotherapy group was 14.2 ± 1.3 mm Hg and the mean IOP after switched from brimonidine 0.2% monotherapy to BBFC was 11.7 ± 1.5 mm Hg. The mean IOP was 11.9 ± 2.1 mm Hg in the brinzolamide 1% and brimonidine 0.2% concomitant therapy group and the mean IOP after switched from brinzolamide 1% and brimonidine 0.2% concomitant therapy to BBFC was 12.0 ± 1.1 mm Hg. The mean IOP and reduction rate were 10.7 ± 2.1 mm Hg and 35.5%, respectively,in the newly diagnosed NTG patients treated with BBFC. There was no serious adverse drug reaction causing ocular damage. CONCLUSIONS: BBFC provides a significant IOP reduction and is a safe antiglaucoma medication for NTG patients.
Brimonidine Tartrate ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Low Tension Glaucoma* ; Prospective Studies

No abstract available.
Family Practice* ; Fatigue* ; Humans ; Pilot Projects* ; Prospective Studies*

No abstract available.
Femur* ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary* ; Tibia*

PURPOSE: The effect and safety of new intravaginal pelvic floor electrical stimulation, with a distal microchip (PIC16C74), for precision and comfort, in the treatment of female stress, urge and mixed incontinence, were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight incontinent women were divided into three groups: stress incontinence (13), urge incontinence (12) and mixed incontinence (13). Evaluations, both before and after treatment, including history taking, a physical examination, a stress provocation test, a 1-hour pad test, voiding diaries, female lower urinary tract symptom and quality of life questionnaires, were conducted. All patients were treated by pelvic floor electrical stimulation, twice a week, for 6 weeks. The success rate, complications, satisfaction and quality of life were evaluated 1 month later. RESULTS: The overall success rate was 60.5%. 53.8 (7/13), 66.7 (8/12) and 61.5% (8/13) success rates were found in patients with stress, urge, and mixed type incontinence, respectively. Success rates of 58.8 (10/17) and 55.6% (5/9) were also found in grades I and II, respectively. There were no significant differences in the success rates between the types and grades of incontinence. 73.7% (28/38) of the patients were satisfied with the treatment, and their quality of life improved from 2.4 to 7.2, on the visual analog scales. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the new intravaginal electrical stimulation, with the microchip (PIC16C74), is an effective and safe treatment for female urinary incontinence, although a longer follow-up period will be required to determine the long term effects.
Electric Stimulation* ; Female* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pelvic Floor* ; Physical Examination ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urinary Incontinence* ; Urinary Incontinence, Urge ; Urinary Tract ; Visual Analog Scale

PURPOSE: The present study was done to define the degree of intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP) causing bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)/lower urinary tract symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 239 patients with BPH, analyzing age, IPP, prostate volume, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and the results from a pressure-flow study. Urethral resistance was quantified by using the BOO index (BOOI), according to the formula BOOI=PdetQmax-2xQmax (where Pdet is detrusor pressure at the peak flow rate and Qmax is peak flow rate). BOO was defined by a BOOI above 40. Patients with a BOOI below 20 were excluded. Patients were classified into two groups (obstructed and unobstructed groups) by the BOOI. Correlations were determined by logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted to estimate the optimal cutoff for IPP. RESULTS: There were significant differences in total prostate volume, postvoiding residual urine (PVR), IPP, and Qmax (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, and p=0.026, respectively) between the obstructed and unobstructed groups, but there were no significant differences in age (p=0.653), IPSS total score (p=0.624), or quality of life score (p=0.138). IPP had a significant prognosis (p<0.001) but was weakly correlated with prostate volume (p=0.026). The correlation coefficients between IPP and Qmax, PVR, prostate volume, and BOO were 0.551, -0.159, 0.225, and 0.391, respectively. For IPP, the area under the curve was 0.759 (95% confidence interval, 0.657 to 0.861) and the cutoff to indicate BOO was 5.5 mm with 66.7% sensitivity and 80.5% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: An IPP exceeding 5.5 mm was significantly associated with BOO.
Humans ; Indoles ; Logistic Models ; Prognosis ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; Urinary Tract