Chronic lymphedema of the penis and scrotum is a rare disease in Korea. Lymphedema can be defined as an accumulation of excessive lymph, proteins, chronic inflammation, edema and fibrosis, secondary to the impairment of the lymph vessels, which can be classified into primary, which is the result of inadequate drainage of lymph caused by agenesis and hypogenesis of lymph vessels, and secondary, which could be due to an obstruction or interruption of the lymphatic system, caused by malignancies, post-operative, post-radiation fibrosis, infection, trauma or excision. The treatment method for a lymphedema of the genitalia is determined by cause, which is crucial to the natural course of the disease. In contrast to a primary lymphedema without soft tissue changes and injury, which could be treated conservatively, surgical excision is the best method to treat a chronic lymphedema with soft tissue changes. In this article, a case of penile and scrotal chronic lymphedema of unknown cause, treated with surgical methods, is reported.
Drainage ; Edema ; Fibrosis ; Genitalia ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Lymphatic System ; Lymphedema* ; Male ; Penis* ; Rare Diseases ; Scrotum* ; Surgical Procedures, Operative

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We wanted to perform quantitative echocardiographic assessment of myocardial function in the patients with myocardial bridge by measuring 2-dimensional strain with using newly developed software. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Novel computer software was used for tracking heart tissue on echocardiography, and we conducted an advanced wall-motion analysis for 18 symptomatic patients (mean age: 57.1+/-9.7 years, 10 female) with myocardial bridging of the left anterior descending coronary artery and also 20 age-matched healthy controls. The conventional wall-motion scoring was normal in all the patients, and the software was able to adequately track their heart tissue. RESULTS: The maximal angiographic systolic lumen diameter reduction within the myocardial bridges was 71+/-12.6% at rest, with a persistent diameter reduction of 31.2+/-11.3%. The radial strain and displacement of the anterior segments were more significantly reduced than that of the posterior segments at the level of the papillary muscle (30.9+/-13.8% vs. 51.8+/-17.3% and 4.8+/-0.9 vs. 5.9+/-1.5, respectively, all p<0.05), and this showed a plateau (39% and 33%, respectively) or biphasic (50% and 56%, respectively) pattern. The time from the R wave on electrocardiography to the transition from regional systole to early diastolic lengthening (Tr) was significantly delayed in the patients with myocardial bridge more than that for the controls (497+/-20.4 ms vs. 348+/-12.5 ms, respectively, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Delayed systolic contraction and diastolic relaxation are important mechanisms that contribute to ischemia in the patients with myocardial bridge. 2-dimensional strain can be used to achieve real-time wall-motion analysis, and it has the potential to improve the identification and functional quantification of myocardial Bridge.
Coronary Vessels ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Heart ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Myocardial Bridging ; Papillary Muscles ; Relaxation ; Systole ; Ventricular Function, Left*

BACKGROUND: The evidence for H. pylori as a gastrointestnal pathogen is now very strong, if not overwhelming. Among the pathogenic factors of H. pylori, flagella and urease are considered to be major factors causing the gastrododenal disease. We observed the gene diversity of H. pylori using the PCR-amplified 1.4Kb fla A gene and 0.9Kb ure B gene and examined the relationship between the gene pattern and the gastroduodenal disease. METHOD: Fifty-one cases of isolated strains were cultured at the Helicobacter-selective blood agar plates. To compare the gene diversity among the isolates of gastroduodenal disease genotypes was analyzed by PCR-based RFLP. 1.4Kb fla A gene and 0.9Kb ure B genes from isolates were amplified by PCR and digested with Hae 3 restriction enzymes to observe the restriction fragment length polymophysm. Protein patterns were also compared to examine the antigenic variations. Total cell proteins, and octyl-glucose extracts from isolates were analyzed by SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: 41 cases (80.4%) of H. pylori were isolated in the 51 cases of gastroduodenal diseases. We could classify theses isolates 3 types of PCR-RFLP in the fla A gene, 900+500bp, 500+500+400bp, 600+800bp, and 9 types in the ure B gene. PCR-RFLP in the fla A gene and ure B gene of the isolates was different from the standard strain of Australia and the genetic diversity was not related to the types of the gastroduodenal disease. We demonstrated variations in the protein pattern and antigenic profiles among the isolates by SDS-PAGE analysis. These data also did not show any relationship between protein pattern and types of gastroduodenal diseases. CONCLUSION: Tese studies showed many different gene diversity in the flagella and urease gene without any relationship with the types of gastoduodenal disease. And variable protein pattern were noted among the strains of H. pylori. Further studies to demonstrate the pathgenecity of H. pylori should be continued even if there was no relationship between the genomic diversity of the flagella or urease and the types of gastroduodenal disease.
Agar ; Australia ; DNA* ; Electrophoresis ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Flagella ; Genes, vif ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Urease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been associated with tumor cell invasion and metastasis by mediating the degradation of extracellular matrix components. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) plays an important role in promotion of carcinogenesis, tumor invasiveness and angiogenesis. Recently, some investigators have reported that COX-2 could promote secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Therefore, an interrelation between MMPs and the associated COX-2 may play a significant role in the invasive phenotype of malignant tumors. In the present study, the authors investigated the correlation between expressions of COX-2 and MMPs. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Immunohistochemical staining of MMP-2, -3 and -9, and COX-2 were performed on paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 51 nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses tumors (27 inverted papillomas, 5 inverted papillomas with malignant transformation, and 19 squamous cell carcinomas). Co-expression of these MMPs and COX-2 was visualized with confocal laser scanning microscope. RESULTS: MMP-2, -3 and -9 were found mainly in malignant lesions in concert with COX-2. However, the co-expressions of MMP-2 and COX-2, MMP-9 and COX-2 were detected with significance. CONCLUSION: These results suggest a potentially important role for COX-2 in the regulation of MMPs, malignant transformation, and progression of squamous cell carcinoma, and it points out the potential use of COX-2 inhibitors, in the prevention and treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.
Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; Cyclooxygenase 2* ; Extracellular Matrix ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinases* ; Nasal Cavity ; Negotiating ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Papilloma, Inverted ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Phenotype ; Research Personnel