PURPOSE: To assess the role and efficacy of radiologic intervention in the adult patients with esophagobronchial fistula. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiologic intervertion was performed in 4 patients with esophagobronchial fistula. We tried direct occlusion of fistula tract by glue(histoacylate 0.4cc + lipiodol 0.3cc) and coil in 2 patients and performed presurgical wire insertion by using 8F curved catheter via esophageal opening of fistula tract. The latter procedure was carled out to detect the fistula tract easily at operation. RESULTS: Direct occlusions of fistula tract by glue and coil were performed only to fail in 2 patients. Pre-surgical wire incertion by using 8F curred catheter under guidance of fluroscopy in 3 patients were helpful in detecting fistula tract at operation. CONCLUSION: Direct occlusion of the fistulous tract in esophagobronchial fistulas was ineffective. However, presur- gical wire insertion by using cured catheter under fluroscopy guidance is helpful to detect the fistula tract easily at operation.
Adhesives ; Adult* ; Catheters ; Ethiodized Oil ; Fistula* ; Humans

Exogenous lipold pneumonia is an unusual disease resulting from aspiration of oil particles. A history of oil ingestion strongly suggests the diagnosis, but the radiological presentation varies from mild perihilar consolidation to diffuse and extensive bilateral involvement, particularly of the posterior basal segment of both lower lung(l). Since magnetic resonance(MR) provides greater contrast resolution than CT, it offers the potential for tissue characterization. In particular, fatty tissue and lipid containing substances are known to have high signal intensities on T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo (SE) images. We report MR findings in two case of exogenous lipold pneumonia caused by ingestion of shark liver oil(Squalene).
Adipose Tissue ; Diagnosis ; Eating ; Liver ; Pneumonia* ; Sharks

Background: As the population of patients with end-stage renal disease has grown older, the proportion of patients with poorly preserved vasculature has concomitantly increased. Thus, arteriovenous grafts (AVG) have been used more frequently to access blood vessels for hemodialysis. Despite this increasing demand, studies of AVG are limited. In this study, we examined the surgical outcomes of upper-limb AVG creation. Methods: Among the arteriovenous fistula formation procedures performed between January 2014 and March 2019 at Dankook University Hospital, 42 cases involved AVG creation. We compared patients in whom the axillary vein was used (group A; brachioaxillary AVG [B-Ax AVG]; n=20) with those in whom upper limb veins were used (group B; brachiobasilic AVG or brachioantecubital AVG; n=22). Results: The 1-year primary patency rate was higher in group A than in group B (57.9% vs. 41.7%; p=0.262). The incidence of postoperative complications was not significantly different between groups. Conclusion AVG using the axillary vein showed no major differences in safety or functionality compared to AVG using other veins. Therefore, accounting for age, underlying disease, and expected patient lifespan, B-Ax AVG can be considered an acceptable surgical method.

PURPOSE: To compare the results of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripters according to three shock wave energy sources; piezoelectric (EDAP LT 01+), electromagnetic (Storz Modulith SLX) and electroconductive (EDAP- TMS Sonolith VISION), for the treatment of urinary stones. METERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 1990 and March 2006, 1,504 patients (1,691 renal units) were treated with LT-01+(group A), 2,265 patients (2,500 renal units) with a Modulith SLX (group B) and 927 patients (946 renal units) with a Sonolith VISION (group C). The success rates, number of sessions and complications were examined. Statistical analyses were also conducted according to the size and location of the stones. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the success rates between the three groups (group A, 97.8%; group B, 98.1%; group C, 97.1%). According to the stone size, the success rate for stones more than 1cm(2) was lower in group C than in groups A and B. According to the location, group C had a lower success rate than groups A and B for renal stones, while there were no differences between the three groups in the treatment of other stone locations. The number of treatment sessions for group A was greater than those for groups B and C (group A, 3.83; group B, 1.85; group C, 1.93). Many more sessions were required for group A in comparison with groups B and C in case of renal stones, ureteropelvic junction and upper ureteral stones. The number of sessions for group B was the least for lower ureteral stones. Complications, including steinstrasse, fever, perirenal hematoma and hematuria, were detected in groups A, B and group C at 10, 15.3 and 7.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences in the success rates between the three extracorporeal shock wave lithotripters using a shock wave generator. The mean number of treatment sessions was most with the piezoelectric type; whereas, complications were most prevalent with the electromagnetic type.
Fever ; Hematoma ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Magnets ; Shock* ; Ureter ; Urinary Calculi

PURPOSE: To analyze the ability of serum prostate specific antigen (s-PSA) to predict the prostate volume by characterizing the relationship between the prostate volume and serum PSA in men with benign prostate hyperplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 1,254 patients, with lower urinary tract symptoms, who had visited our hospital between Jan. 2002 and Aug. 2004. All patients with prostate cancer, prostatitis, and a history of prostatic surgery and alpha-blocker or 5-alpha reductase inhibitor medication were excluded from the study. The baseline s-PSA and prostate volume were determined using standard techniques. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to analyze the relationship between the s-PSA and prostate volume, and a linear regression model to estimate the prostate volume. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were constructed to evaluate the ability of the s-PSA to predict cut-off values for assessing prostate enlargement. RESULTS: The analyses included 959 patients, with mean age, baseline s-PSA and prostate volume of 68.2 years, 3.4ng/ml and 34.4ml, respectively. The s-PSA and prostate volume increased with age. The prostate volume correlated positively with s-PSA (r=0.292, p<0.01). The linear regression analyses showed that the s-PSA and prostate volume had an age-dependent linear relationship. According to the ROC curves, the optimal s-PSA cut-off values for the entire study population were 1.5ng/ml to detect a prostate volume>30ml and 2.0ng/ml to detect a prostate volume>40ml. CONCLUSIONS: The prostate volume is strongly related to the s-PSA and age in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Since treatment outcomes and the risk of long-term complications depend on the prostate volume, the serum PSA may sufficiently estimate prostate enlargement to be useful in therapeutic decision making in men with BPH.
Age Factors ; Decision Making ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Linear Models ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Oxidoreductases ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Prostatitis ; ROC Curve

PUSPOSE: To evaluate the results of our experience with a retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy, in patients with transitional cell carcinomas of the renal pelvis and ureter, compared to those treated by open nephroureterectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between August 2003 and February 2006, 17 patients with a transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract underwent retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy. The distal ureter and bladder cuff was treated with a Gibson incision in 11 patients, with an endoscopic stapler employed in 6 patients. During the endoscopic stapler firing of the bladder cuff, complete removal of the ureteral orifice was confirmed using a flexible cystoscope. The patients' operative and clinical records were retrospectively reviewed, and compared to 16 patients with a transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract treated using an open nephroureterectomy. RESULTS: The retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomies were successfully performed in all patients. The mean operative time, transfusion rate and time to drain removal were not significantly different between the two groups. The initiations of the postoperative oral intake and ambulation, as well as the hospital stay were shorter in the retroperitoneoscopy than the open group. Complications were detected in 1 and 5 patients of the retroperitoneoscopy and open groups, respectively. With respect to the follow-up results, no statistical differences were seen in either bladder or extravesical recurrence between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: A retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy is a less invasive technique than an open nephroureterectomy for patients with a transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis and ureter. Especially, using an endoscopic stapler for the lower ureter and bladder cuff may shorten the operative time. However, long term follow-up will be necessary to confirm the cancer control effects.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Cystoscopes ; Fires ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Pelvis* ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Nephrectomy ; Operative Time ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Ureter* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Tract ; Walking

OBJECTIVE: Although nerve-sparing radical surgery (NSRS) is an emerging technique for reducing surgery-related dysfunctions, its efficacy is controversial in patients with cervical cancer. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis to compare clinical outcomes, and urinary, anorectal, and sexual dysfunctions between conventional radical surgery (CRS) and NSRS. METHODS: After searching PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, two randomized controlled trials, seven prospective and eleven retrospective cohort studies were included with 2,253 patients from January 2000 to February 2014. We performed crude analyses and then conducted subgroup analyses according to study design, quality of study, surgical approach, radicality, and adjustment for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Crude analyses showed decreases in blood loss, hospital stay, frequency of intraoperative complications, length of the resected vagina, duration of postoperative catheterization (DPC), urinary frequency, and abnormal sensation in NSRS, whereas there were no significant differences in other clinical parameters and dysfunctions between CRS and NSRS. In subgroup analyses, operative time was longer (standardized difference in means, 0.948; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.642 to 1.253), while intraoperative complications were less common (odds ratio, 0.147; 95% CI, 0.035 to 0.621) in NSRS. Furthermore, subgroup analyses showed that DPC was shorter, urinary incontinence or frequency, and constipation were less frequent in NSRS without adverse effects on survival and sexual functions. CONCLUSION: NSRS may not affect prognosis and sexual dysfunctions in patients with cervical cancer, whereas it may decrease intraoperative complications, and urinary and anorectal dysfunctions despite long operative time and short length of the resected vagina when compared with CRS.
Constipation/epidemiology/etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy/adverse effects/*methods ; Intraoperative Complications/epidemiology ; *Organ Sparing Treatments/adverse effects/methods ; Pelvis/*innervation/surgery ; Rectum/*innervation/surgery ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/epidemiology/etiology ; Urinary Bladder/*innervation/surgery ; Urinary Retention/epidemiology/etiology ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/epidemiology/*surgery ; Uterus/innervation/surgery ; Vagina/innervation/surgery

BACKGROUND: There are limited data about whether patients who receive initial treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) gain or lose weight during long-term follow-up under thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression. This study was aimed to evaluate whether DTC patients under TSH suppression experience long-term weight gain after initial treatment. We also examined the impact of the radioactive iodine ablation therapy (RAIT) preparation method on changes of weight, comparing thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) and recombinant human TSH (rhTSH). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 700 DTC patients who underwent a total thyroidectomy followed by either RAIT and levothyroxine (T4) replacement or T4 replacement alone. The control group included 350 age-matched patients with benign thyroid nodules followed during same period. Anthropometric data were measured at baseline, 1 to 2 years, and 3 to 4 years after thyroidectomy. Comparisons were made between weight and body mass index (BMI) at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS: Significant gains in weight and BMI were observed 3 to 4 years after initial treatment for female DTC but not in male patients. These gains among female DTC patients were also significant compared to age-matched control. Women in the THW group gained a significant amount of weight and BMI compared to baseline, while there was no increase in weight or BMI in the rhTSH group. There were no changes in weight and BMI in men according to RAIT preparation methods. CONCLUSION: Female DTC patients showed significant gains in weight and BMI during long-term follow-up after initial treatment. These changes were seen only in patients who underwent THW for RAIT.
Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Iodine ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Hormones ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroid Nodule ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyrotropin Alfa ; Thyrotropin* ; Thyroxine ; Weight Gain

A diversity of synthetic cathinones has flooded the recreational drug marketplace worldwide. This variety is often a response to legal control actions for one specific compound (e.g. methcathinone) which has resulted in the emergence of closely related replacement. Based on recent trends, the nitrogen atom is one of the sites in the cathinone molecule being explored by designer type modifications. In this study, we designed and synthesized two new synthetic cathinones, (1) α-piperidinopropiophenone (PIPP) and (2) α-piperidinopentiothiophenone (PIVT), which have piperidine ring substituent on their nitrogen atom. Thereafter, we evaluated whether these two compounds have an abuse potential through the conditioned place preference (CPP) in mice and self-administration (SA) in rats. We also investigated whether the substances can induce locomotor sensitization in mice following 7 days daily injection and challenge. qRT-PCR analyses were conducted to determine their effects on dopamine-related genes in the striatum. PIPP (10 and 30 mg/kg) induced CPP in mice, but not PIVT. However, both synthetic cathinones were not self-administered by the rats and did not induce locomotor sensitization in mice. qRT-PCR analyses showed that PIPP, but not PIVT, reduced dopamine transporter gene expression in the striatum. These data indicate that PIPP, but not PIVT, has rewarding effects, which may be attributed to its ability to affect dopamine transporter gene expression. Altogether, this study suggests that PIPP may have abuse potential. Careful monitoring of this type of cathinone and related drugs are advocated.
Animals ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Gene Expression ; Mice ; Nitrogen ; Rats ; Reward

The emergence and use of synthetic cannabinoids have greatly increased in recent years. These substances are easily dispensed over the internet and on the streets. Some synthetic cannabinoids were shown to have abuse liability and were subsequently regulated by authorities. However, there are compounds that are still not regulated probably due to the lack of abuse liability studies. In the present study, we assessed the abuse liability of three synthetic cannabinoids, namely JWH-030, JWH-175, and JWH-176. The abuse liability of these drugs was evaluated in two of the most widely used animal models for assessing the abuse potential of drugs, the conditioned place preference (CPP) and self-administration (SA) test. In addition, the open-field test was utilized to assess the effects of repeated (7 days) treatment and abrupt cessation of these drugs on the psychomotor activity of animals. Results showed that JWH-175 (0.5 mg/kg), but not JWH-030 or JWH-176 at any dose, significantly decreased the locomotor activity of mice. This alteration in locomotor activity was only evident during acute exposure to the drug and was not observed during repeated treatment and abstinence. Similarly, only JWH-175 (0.1 mg/kg) produced significant CPP in rats. On the other hand, none of the drugs tested was self-administered by rats. Taken together, the present results indicate that JWH-175, but not JWH-030 and JWH-176, may have abuse potential. More importantly, our findings indicate the complex psychopharmacological effects of synthetic cannabinoids and the need to closely monitor the production, dispensation, and use of these substances.
Animals ; Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists* ; Cannabinoids ; Cannabis ; Hand ; Internet ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Motor Activity ; Rats