Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) has a vasodilatory effect as a non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic neurotransmitter. The role of VIP on penile erection has been controversial. This study was undertaken to elucidate the effect of VIP on penile erection in-vivo and to predict whether this drug can be clinically applied to the diagnosis and/or treatment of impotence. The results are as follows. Intracavernosal injection of VIP alone (0.000000001to 0.00001M, n=10) did not show any increase in basal ICP Pretreatment of VIP (0.000005M, 0.00001M, n=7) enhanced partial erection induced by electric intensity with suboptimal level(frequency; 1 Hz, intensity; 1.2-2.0 volt, pulse duration, 1 msec.) (p<0.05)Intracavernosal injection of VIP-antagonist (0.000000001 to 0.00001M,n=7) was found to suppress the full erection induced by the optimal electric stimulation(frequency; 1 Hz, intensity; 3-4 volt, pulse duration; 1 msec.) in dose dependent manner (p<0.05). These results suggest that VIP may induce penile erection in rat through its receptor on corpus cavernosum, although it requires the cooperative action of other neurotransmitter(s).
Animals ; Diagnosis ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Male ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Penile Erection* ; Rats* ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide*

BACKGROUND: We studied the incidence of trauma caused by alcohol related accidents, and the effects that has on the occurrence, the extent, and the outcome to the patient. METHODS: In our study we studied trauma patients excluding pediatric patients(15 years old and under) who came to the Emergency department of Korea University Medical School Anam Hospital from the 1st of january 1996 to 30th of June 1996, looked into their medical records, and studied the records in a retrospective manner. The trauma patients were divided into two groups, a) alcohol-related and b) alcohol-non-related. The two groups were then subdivided according to their sex, age, the time they came in, the anatomical part of the trauma, the mechanism of their injury, the extent of the injury, the length of their hospital stay, the length of their ED stay and were seperately compared and analysed. Statistically, ANOVA and logistic regression analysis using SAS were used in the study and then was assessed in Chi-square analysis methods. RESULTS: The total of the trauma patients, added up to 832 people, 577: male and 255: female. Among this sum, 16 trauma patients were alcohol related(male:127 & female 36). 115 people were in the age group of 21-40. Compared to the non-alcohol related trauma group, the alcohol-related group had more facial & scalp injuries and tended to come in the hours between 0-6 AM. The cause of the injuries were mossy by fast-fighting and suicide, compared to mostly accidental-slipping injuries in the non alcohol-related group. There were no difference in the degree of the injury(ISS) and the length of hospital stay between the two groups, whereas the length of the stay at the ED was longer alcohol-related trauma patients. CONCLUSION: Alcohol related trauma patients were mostly in their 20s and 30s, came to the hospital at a late time it the reason for their visit were mossy because of fist fighting. In the Emergency department, because prompt and correct diagnosis is quite difficult to make in this group, their ED stay tended to be longer. We can conclude that measuring the blood alcohol level of these patients, continuing the psychological therapy and educating people is needed.
Diagnosis ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Scalp ; Schools, Medical ; Suicide

OBJECTIVES: Hyposexuality is defined as diminished sexual drive or libido. There has been little research into the sexuality in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We investigated the prevalence and relating factors for hyposexuality in OSA men. METHODS: Consecutive 182 male (mean age 48.3 y) were enrolled who were newly diagnosed with OSA through polysomnography. All completed Symptom checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Subjects were divided into non-hyposexuality (score 0) and hyposexuality (score > or =1) groups according to the question "Loss of sexual interest or pleasure" in SCL-90-R. RESULTS: 110 of 182 subjects (60.4%) answered hyposexuality (score > or =1). Significant correlations were found between hyposexuality and following factors; age (rho=0.248), BDI (rho=0.450), BAI (rho=0.410), ESS (rho=0.221), and percentage of non-REM stage 3 (N3%) (rho=-0.184). Apnea-hypopnea index was significantly correlated with nocturia (rho=0.320), ESS (r=0.230), N1% (r=0.596), N2% (r=-0.540), N3% (r=-0.195), and lowest oxygen saturation (r=-0.641). Comparing two groups, hyposexuality group showed significantly lowered total sleep time (380.2 min vs. 359.1 min), and sleep efficiency (83% vs. 76%). The severity of hyposexuality was correlated with BDI (rho=0.330), BAI (rho=0.253), and N3% (rho=-0.215) in subjects with hyposexuality. After controlling for age, polysomnographic parameters were not correlated with hyposexuality. CONCLUSIONS: About half of untreated OSA male subjects reported diminished libido. Age, daytime sleepiness, mood disorders, and decreased sleep quality were associated with hyposexuality. Of these, aging process was the most important factor for hyposexuality.
Aging ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Humans ; Libido ; Male ; Mood Disorders ; Nocturia ; Oxygen ; Polysomnography ; Prevalence ; Sexuality ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive*

Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis is an emerging threat to humans. Despite steady efforts of the national tuberculosis control program, current prevalence of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis rate is increasing in Korea. In Korea, it is effective to both improve the medical transfer system on tuberculosis, and also to make a new tuberculosis patient control system with integrated public-private sector. Improvement focused on the new medical transfer system is a suitable model considering current situation of the Korean medical system. This model can be achieved by replacing the traditional drug susceptibility test method, which requires a long turnaround time, with rapid molecular biological method, and improving the overall process of specimen transport system, report system, and guidelines for tuberculosis, as well. Using such model, doctors can discover multi-drug resistant tuberculosis patients at an earlier stage, prescribe appropriate drugs at the right time, and effectively support directly observed treatment short course strategy. Therefore, this new model for improvement of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis control program, medical transfer system-focused public-private integrated system, can present an effective tool for enhancing and modifying functions of the current national tuberculosis programme in Korea.
Humans ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant

PURPOSE: Bone graft is essential for successful spinal fusion. So, we clinically assessed the effect of uniting grafted autologous bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis is performed on 46 patients who had grade I or II, one segmental, degenerative spondyloiisthesis according to Meyerding classification and treated operatively by posterolateral fusion with posterior decompression and autologous iliac bone graft from January 1991 to June 1996. We got the data from simple anteroposterior, lateral, flexion- extension X-ray film at preoperative, postoperative and last follow-up period, and from clinical results at last OPD follow-up according to Kirkaldy-Willis criteria. We compared the union of grafted autologous bone with clinical results using X2-test. We also compared preoperative spinal instability, with/without instrumentation and intraoperative reduction with the union of grafted autologous bane and clinical results. RESULTS: There was high significant correlation (P=0.000) between the union of grafted autologous bone and clinical results statistically, CONCLUSIONS: This results suggest that the union of grafted autologous bone was an important factor in determing clinical results.
Classification ; Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; Spondylolisthesis* ; Transplants* ; X-Ray Film

PURPOSE: Laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) is gaining wider acceptance for the treatment of early gastric cancer. However, firm evidence supporting the long-term outcome after LADG for gastric cancer is unknown. This study compared long-term quality of life after LADG versus an open distal gastrectomy (ODG) for early gastric cancer. METHODS: This study included 29 patients who underwent LADG and 57 patients who underwent ODG for the treatment of stage I gastric cancer. Quality of life was evaluated based on the Korean version of EORTC QLQ-C30 (version 3.0) and EORTC QLQ-STO22 one year after surgery. All patients underwent a Billroth II gastrectomy for stage I gastric cancer between January 2003 and December 2004. RESULTS: A total of 86 (58%) out of 154 patients responded to the questionnaire. Demographic features showed no difference between the two groups of patients for age, sex, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis except for tumor size and the number of retrieved lymph nodes. The mean score for global health status was not statistically different (LADG, 60.3+/-20.4 vs ODG, 57+/-20.6; P=0.413). The total score of 21 items related to stomach cancer (EORTC QLQ-STO22) also was not statistically different (LADG, 68.9+/-64.9 vs ODG, 94.5+/-97.3; P=0.340). CONCLUSION: Based on the results of the Korean version of EORTC QLQ-C 30 (version 3.0) and EORTC QLQ-STO22, LADG does not seem to have any long-term benefit over ODG on 'quality of life'.
Gastrectomy* ; Gastroenterostomy ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Quality of Life* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Stomach Neoplasms

Pagonimus Westmani, occuring as an important human infestation of the lung, is widely distributed in the Far East ; Korea, Japan, China and the Philippines. Since Otani found the parasites for the first time in the human brain in 1887, it has been established that cerebral infestation occurs with the highest frequency among extrapulmonary involvement. In 0.8 to 25 percent of patients infested with the lung flukes cerebral paragonimiasis may be developed. The larvae may procedure arachnoiditis, abscess, fibrous cystic lesions and granulomas in the brain. Based on a review of the literatures and upon the 7 cases of cerebral paragonimiasis which have been observed by the authors at the National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, the following points are stressed. 1) Males had a significantly higher prevalence than females. Cerebral paragonimiasis was most commonly found in young adults(16 to 25yrs). 2) Clinically the patients with cerebral involvement were characterized by Jacksonian type of epilepsy, headache and visual disturbance. Mental deterioration, hemiplegia, hemihypesthesia, homonymous hemianopsia and optic atrophy were the five major signs. 3) The patients having symptoms for less than 6 months developed mild leukocytosis in many cases. All the cases of cerebral paragonimiasis revealed positive reaction in the intradermal tests with purified antigens of P. Westermani. 4) On skull films multiple round or oval cystic calcification was diagnostic value for cerebral paragonimiasis. On angiogram vascular staining and abnormal vessels were not disclosed. On pneumoencephalogram subcortical atrophy or filling defect of the ventricle may be showed. 5) The predilection area of the granuloma and fibrous cystic mass were the occipital, posterior parietal and posterior temporal lobes. 6) The patients with chronic stabilized cerebral paragonimiasis. having intractable symptoms and signs, could not be improved with Bithionol treatment. But headache, vomiting, visual disturbance, facial weakness and especially intractable seizure were improved in our cases treated with surgical operation.
Abscess ; Arachnoid ; Arachnoiditis ; Atrophy ; Bithionol ; Brain ; China ; Epilepsy ; Far East ; Female ; Granuloma ; Headache ; Hemianopsia ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Intradermal Tests ; Japan ; Korea ; Larva ; Leukocytosis ; Lung ; Male ; Optic Atrophy ; Paragonimiasis* ; Parasites ; Philippines ; Prevalence ; Rabeprazole ; Seizures ; Seoul ; Skull ; Temporal Lobe ; Trematoda ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: It was frequently noticed in the course of performing a two-needle sympathectomy, that satisfactory spread of contrast solution could be produced by injection through only one of the needles. This led to a closer examination of the merits of single-needle technique. METHODS: Forty patients were randomized into two groups. Patients in the single-needle group (n = 20) were injected at the second or third lumbar sympathetic ganglia, while patients in the two-needle group (n = 20) were injected at the second and third lumbar sympathetic ganglia. Lumbar sympathetic blocks were performed using 3 ml of alcohol and the spread of injectate was verified with C-arm fluoroscopy. The indicators of a successful sympathetic block are increasing skin temperature, decreasing pain, and anhidrosis in the distal extremity. RESULTS: The duration of anhidrosis was 12.2 2.6 months (mean SD) in the single-needle group versus 13.6 3.6 months (mean SD) in the two-needle group. CONCLUSIONS: As these results were not significantly different from those obtained in patients having a two-needle sympathectomy, blockade of the single-needle technique under C-arm fluoroscopy is considered to be effective for a neurolytic lumbar sympathectomy.
Extremities ; Fluoroscopy ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Humans ; Hypohidrosis ; Needles ; Skin Temperature ; Sympathectomy

BACKGROUND: It was frequently noticed in the course of performing a two-needle sympathectomy, that satisfactory spread of contrast solution could be produced by injection through only one of the needles. This led to a closer examination of the merits of single-needle technique. METHODS: Forty patients were randomized into two groups. Patients in the single-needle group (n = 20) were injected at the second or third lumbar sympathetic ganglia, while patients in the two-needle group (n = 20) were injected at the second and third lumbar sympathetic ganglia. Lumbar sympathetic blocks were performed using 3 ml of alcohol and the spread of injectate was verified with C-arm fluoroscopy. The indicators of a successful sympathetic block are increasing skin temperature, decreasing pain, and anhidrosis in the distal extremity. RESULTS: The duration of anhidrosis was 12.2 2.6 months (mean SD) in the single-needle group versus 13.6 3.6 months (mean SD) in the two-needle group. CONCLUSIONS: As these results were not significantly different from those obtained in patients having a two-needle sympathectomy, blockade of the single-needle technique under C-arm fluoroscopy is considered to be effective for a neurolytic lumbar sympathectomy.
Extremities ; Fluoroscopy ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Humans ; Hypohidrosis ; Needles ; Skin Temperature ; Sympathectomy

Recently, laser treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is considered as a promising alternative to traditional transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of laser therapy on BPH, we compared the results of transurethral balloon laser thermotherapy (TUBALT, n=13) and Hybrid laser prostatectomy (HLP, n=21) with those of TURP (n=25) in 58 patients with mild and moderate BPH. Following data were evaluated at postoperative 1, 3 and 6 months : AUA symptom score (SS), maximal flow rate (Qmax), subjective symptom improvement (SI), postoperative complications. All 3 groups show significant improvement after treatment in the Qmax values. Among 3 groups, the Qmax value was lower in TUBALT group (12.9+/-3.3 ml/sec) than those in HLP group (15.5+/-5.2 ml/sec) and TURP group (18.7+/-5.3 ml/sec) on postoperative 6 months. The Qmax values were not significantly different between HLP and TURP groups. In the SS values, all 3 groups show significant improvement after treatment and, TUBALT (9.9+/-9.7) and HLP (10.3+/-9.4) group were comparable to TURP group (5.2+/-4.2) on postoperative 6 months. In global assessment of SI, both HLP (87.5%) and TUBALT (75%) group were also comparable to TURP (90%) group on postoperative 3 months. but TUBALT group showed delayed symptom improvement compared to TURP group. Postoperative complications were minimal both in HLP and TUBALT groups, compared to TURP group. These results suggest that both HLP and TUBALT are effective in mild and moderate BPH, Further more, HLP treatment could be considered a promising alternative to TURP.
Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced* ; Laser Therapy ; Postoperative Complications ; Prostate ; Prostatectomy* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate