PURPOSE: Transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta) is a potent modulator of cell proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis and immune system. We evaluate the significance of the expression of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 and correlation with Ki-67 as prognostic factors in prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In order to investigate the expression of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2 and Ki-67, we analyzed immunohistochemical staining from paraffin blocks of 22 cases of the prostate carcinoma and adjacent normal prostate. RESULTS: The TGF-beta1 staining scores of the tumor cells were higher than those of the adjacent normal epithelial cells(p=0.001). The TGF-beta2 staining scores of the tumor cells were also higher than those of the adjacent normal epithelial cells(p=0.003). However no correlation was observed between tumor surrounding stroma and normal stroma in TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 staining scores. The serum PSA level, the clinical stage, the Gleason score and the lymph node metastasis of the tumor was not correlated with the staining score of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2. Ki-67 labelling index(LI) was significantly associated with the histologic grade, while no relationship was observed between Ki-67 LI and clinical stage. TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 staining score was not statistically correlated with the Ki-67 LI. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the prostatic cancer was associated with alteration of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 expression by prostatic epithelial cells which may be biologically important in the development of prostate cancer and TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 expression may be new target of treatment of prostate cancer. Prognostic value of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 expression was not statistically significant but Ki-67 LI was significantly associated with Gleason score.
Cell Proliferation ; Epithelial Cells ; Immune System ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Grading ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta2*

PURPOSE: We evaluated the therapeutic effect of combined androgen blockade (CAB) compared with that of medical, or surgical, castration monotherapy, in the treatment of the metastatic prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 53 patients with metastatic prostate cancer, we compared the overall survival between CAB and monotherapy groups, using a Kaplan-Meier survival curve. We also compared the therapeutic effect of flutamide and bicalutamide in the CAB group. RESULTS: There were no differences in known prognostic factors between the CAB and monotherapy groups. The mean survival after treatment were 43 months in the CAB group, and 38 months in monotherapy group, with no significant difference (p=0.470). There were also no differences in the survival rates between the flutamide and bicalutamide groups (p=0.158). CONCLUSIONS: These results implicate that the CAB was no better than medical, or surgical, castration monotherapy in patients with metastatic prostate cancer, and that flutamide or bicalutamide, in CAB, resulted in similar efficacies and tolerabilities.
Castration ; Flutamide ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: We evaluated the therapeutic effect of combined androgen blockade (CAB) compared with that of medical, or surgical, castration monotherapy, in the treatment of the metastatic prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 53 patients with metastatic prostate cancer, we compared the overall survival between CAB and monotherapy groups, using a Kaplan-Meier survival curve. We also compared the therapeutic effect of flutamide and bicalutamide in the CAB group. RESULTS: There were no differences in known prognostic factors between the CAB and monotherapy groups. The mean survival after treatment were 43 months in the CAB group, and 38 months in monotherapy group, with no significant difference (p=0.470). There were also no differences in the survival rates between the flutamide and bicalutamide groups (p=0.158). CONCLUSIONS: These results implicate that the CAB was no better than medical, or surgical, castration monotherapy in patients with metastatic prostate cancer, and that flutamide or bicalutamide, in CAB, resulted in similar efficacies and tolerabilities.
Castration ; Flutamide ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate

Gossypiboma is the term used to describe a mass within the body composed of a non-absorbable surgical material involving a cotton matrix. Surgical sponges with radiopaque markers are easily recognized on plain radiographs, but foreign bodies retained in the body without such markers present a diagnostic problem. Gossypiboma should be differentiated from a hematoma, abscess, cyst or tumor. Here we report a case of Gossypiboma in a 60-year-old male patient who had undergone a ureterolithotomy for a right ureteral stone 30 years earlier.
Abscess ; Foreign Bodies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Surgical Sponges ; Ureter

PURPOSE: The incidence of renal stones is three times higher in men than women due to sex hormones, and most are calcium oxalate stones. Therefore, the effects of testosterone and estrogen in the formation of urinary stones were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into seven groups. The first was the control group; the second was injected with testosterone cypionate into the muscle, every week; the third was fed tamoxifen only, everyday; the fourth was oophorectomized; the fifth was fed tamoxifen after an oophorectomy; the sixth was treated with testosterone after an oophorectomy; and the seventh was injected with testosterone, weekly, and fed tamoxifen everyday after an oophorectomy. The bladder stone formation and degree of renal crystal deposition of the control group was compared with those of the other groups. The composition of the bladder stones was analyzed by SEM (scanning electron microscopy)-EDX (energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis). RESULTS: Bladder stones were found in 9 rats from group 6 only, which also showed the most predominant renal crystal deposition rate (65.5%). There was a statistical significance in the renal crystal deposition rate only between groups 6 and 1. According to SEM-EDX analysis of the bladder stones, they were composed of struvite and apatite. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that testosterone and estrogen influenced the formation of struvite and apatite stones.
Animals ; Calcium Oxalate ; Estrogens ; Female ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Ovariectomy ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tamoxifen ; Testosterone ; Urinary Bladder Calculi ; Urinary Calculi*

PURPOSE: Our aim is to identify the false negative rate of doppler ultrasonography and to compare color doppler ultrasonography with pathologic findings during testis torsion in animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen male house rabbits weighted 1.9-2.6kg were examined with doppler ultrasonography as control group and 1 rabbit was orchiectomized as pathologic control group. In 16 rabbits, right spermatic cord was torqued 720o count-clockwise and placed back into the scrotum, and 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 48 hours after torsion, doppler ultrasonographic and pathologic findings were examined at twisted testicles. RESULTS: In 1 hour and 3 hours group, false negative rate of doppler ultrasonography were 100% and 6 hours after torsion false nagative rate was 63%. Nine hours after torsion false negative rate was 50%, 12 hours after torsion false negative rate was 25%. But after 18 hours group, all had decreased or disappeared blood flow. Before 9 hours after torsion, there was no pathologic changes in seminiferous tubules. In seminiferous tubules, number of spermatid decreased in 12 hours group and spermatid was absent and spermatocyte were markedly degenerated in 18 hours group. In 48 hours group, spermatid and spermatocyte were absent, number of Sertoli cell decreased markedly and diffuse infarction were seen. CONCLUSIONS: As time goes by, false negative rate of doppler ultrasonography was decreased. So if blood flow have been normal when doppler ultrasonography was done before 12 hours after torsion, doppler ultrasonography should be re-examined in suspected testis before 12 hours after torsion because of spermatocytes are degenerated after 12 hours.
Animals* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Male ; Models, Animal* ; Rabbits ; Scrotum ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Spermatic Cord ; Spermatids ; Spermatocytes ; Testis* ; Ultrasonography, Doppler* ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value and optimal sampling time of serum S-100B protein for the prediction of poor neurological outcomes in post-cardiac arrest (CA) patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH). METHODS: We prospectively measured serum S100 calcium binding protein beta subunit (S-100B protein) levels 12 times (0-96 hours) after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The patients were classified into two groups based on cerebral performance category (CPC): the good neurological outcome group (CPC 1-2 at 6 months) and the poor neurological outcome group (CPC 3-5). We compared serial changes and serum S-100B protein levels at each time point between the two groups and performed receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for the prediction of poor neurological outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were enrolled in the study. S-100B protein levels peaked at ROSC (0 hour), decreased rapidly to 6 hours and maintained a similar level thereafter. Serum S-100B protein levels in the poor CPC group (n = 22) were significantly higher than in the good CPC group (n = 18) at all time points after ROSC except at 4 hours. The time points with highest area under curve were 24 (0.829) and 36 (0.837) hours. The cut-off value, the sensitivity (24/36 hours) and specificity (24/36 hours) for the prediction of poor CPC at 24 and 48 hours were 0.221/0.249 ug/L, 75/65% and 82.4/94.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Serum S-100B protein was an early and useful marker for the prediction of poor neurological outcomes in post-CA patients treated with TH and the optimal sampling times were 24 and 36 hours after ROSC.
Area Under Curve ; Heart Arrest* ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Background: The prognostic consequences of transient hemodynamic deterioration due to cardiac displacement, which is most severe during left circumflex artery (LCX) grafting in off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB) are unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association between mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) < 60% during LCX grafting and the occurrence of composite of morbidity endpoints. Methods: Data of patients who underwent elective OPCAB between January 2010 and December 2019 were reviewed. Logistic regression analysis was performed to detect risk factors for the composite of morbidity endpoints, defined as 30-day or in-hospital mortality, postoperative myocardial infarction, prolonged mechanical ventilation > 24 h, cerebrovascular accident, and acute kidney injury. Results: Among 1,071 patients, the composite of morbidity endpoints occurred in 303 (28%) patients. SvO2 < 60% during LCX grafting was significantly associated with the composite of morbidity (OR: 2.72, 95% CI [1.60, 4.61], P < 0.001) along with advanced age, chronic kidney disease, ratio of early mitral inflow velocity to mitral annular early diastolic velocity, and EuroSCORE II. Other major hemodynamic variables including the cardiac index were not associated with the outcome. Additional regression analysis revealed pre-operative anemia as a predictor of SvO2 < 60% during LCX grafting (OR: 2.09, 95% CI [1.33, 3.29], P = 0.001). Conclusions A decrease in SvO2 < 60%, albeit confined to the period of cardiac displacement, was associated with a 2.7-fold increased risk of detrimental outcomes after OPCAB, implying the prognostic importance of this transient deterioration in oxygen supply-demand balance.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility, safety, advantages and limitations of laparoscopic management of adnexal masses in pregnancy by comparing with laparotomy. METHODS: Between Jan 2001 to Jan 2003, 36 laparoscopic procedures and 15 laparotomy procedures were performed in 51 patients with adnexal masses in pregnancy. Operation time, hospital stay, pathologic findings, complications and pregnancy outcome were analyzed in these patients. RESULTS: Most common pathologic finding was mature cystic teratoma (45%) and malignancy of adnexal tumors were 3 cases (5.9%). There were no differences in size of adnexal tumor, operation time, hemoglobin level change after operation, gestational age at delivery, birth weight, Apgar score, preterm delivery and fetal anomaly between the two groups. Hospital stays was shorter and gestational age at operation was earlier in laparoscopy than explolaparotomy. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic management of adnexal masses in pregnancy is safe and effective procedure.
Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Laparoscopy* ; Laparotomy* ; Length of Stay ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy* ; Teratoma

Sjogren syndrome is a chronic disorder characterized by immune-mediated destruction of exocrine glands predominantly but not exclusively on the lacrimal and salivary glands. The common clinical manifestations of Sjgren syndrome include xerophthalmia with secondary keratoconjunctivitis and xerostomia, with or without salivary gland enlargement. Minor salivary gland biopsy usually demonstrates heavy lymphocyte infiltration, although parotid gland biopsy may be more sensitive and specific. Rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibodies are high in Sjgren syndrome patients. We report a case of Sjogren syndrome with parotid gland involvement in a 44-years-old female patient with xerostomia, xerophthalmia and Rheumatic arthritis. We did total parotidectomy in right parotid gland and superficial parotidectomy for left side parotid gland was done after 20 days. Histologic and immunohistochemical studies revelead multiple periductal lymphoid proliferation and chromic inflammation, lymphoid hyperplasia in parotid glands.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Biopsy ; Exocrine Glands ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Inflammation ; Keratoconjunctivitis ; Lymphocytes ; Parotid Gland* ; Rheumatic Fever ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Salivary Glands ; Salivary Glands, Minor ; Sjogren's Syndrome* ; Xerophthalmia ; Xerostomia