PURPOSE: Alpha adrenergic components do not seem prevalent in the female bladder neck. Nevertheless, some studies using alpha-blockers in women suffering from obstructed urine flow have been reported. We assessed the effectiveness of administering an alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, tamsulosin, in patients with a maximal flow rate less than 12 ml/sec. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2007 to December 2007, 150 patients with a maximal flow rate less than 12 ml/sec were selected for this study. Patients were treated with tamsulosin at a dose of 0.2 mg per day. The effectiveness of tamsulosin was assessed by analyzing the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and other parameters, including the maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax) and the amount of postvoid residual urine. The data for these parameters were acquired at baseline and after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: Of the 150 patients, 113 patients (75.3%) completed the study. Except for the storage symptom score, all clinical parameters, including total IPSS, voiding symptom score, Qmax, and the amount of residual urine, showed significant improvement after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment (p<0.05). The incidence of adverse events was only 4.4%, including dizziness in 3 patients, stress incontinence in 1 patient, and lethargy in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS: The alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonist tamsulosin significantly improved subjective symptoms and uroflowmetric parameters in female patients with a low maximal flow rate of less than 12 ml/sec. The use of tamsulosin may be an initial treatment option in females with a low maximal urinary flow rate.
Dizziness ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lethargy ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Neck ; Prostate ; Stress, Psychological ; Sulfonamides ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction

PURPOSE: We have done this retrospective study to know the relative incidence and clinical manifestations of organic acidopathies in Korea during 8 years(from Jul. 1997 to May 2005). This results of organic acid analysis of 1,787 patients were compared with the results of organic acid analysis that were published three years ago. METHODS: The results of quantitative organic acid analysis of samples of 1788 patients, referred from Jul. 1997 to May 2005, were analyzed retrospectively according to four age group(-2 mon, 3 mon-2 years, 3-12 years) and major clinical manifestations. Quantification of 83 organic acids was done with gas chromatography and mass spectometry. RESULTS: We diagnosed 470 patients with 27 diseases of organic acid metabolism during this study period. Diseases found more than 10 cases are cytosolic 3-ketothiolase deficiency, mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders, PDHC deficiency, mitochondrial 3-ketothiolase deficiency, glutaric aciduria type II, biotinidase deficiency, methylmalonic aciduria and propionic aciduria. Other diseases were diagnosed in less than 10 cases. CONCLUSION: Though the incidence of individual organic acidemia is low, the overall incidence of organic acidemia as a whole seems to be relatively high in Korea. Compared with the results of organic acid analysis that were reported three years ago, we couldn't find a new disease and the difference of the relative incidences of high incident diseases. We were apprehensive of the errors that was owing to the short study period(3 years), but the relative incidences of our study(8 years) were similar to the results of organic acid analysis that were reported three years ago.
Acetyl-CoA C-Acyltransferase ; Biotinidase Deficiency ; Chromatography, Gas ; Cytosol ; Electron Transport ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Metabolism ; Multiple Acyl Coenzyme A Dehydrogenase Deficiency ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Propionic Acidemia ; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex Deficiency Disease ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to recognize the relapse rate and risk factors of relapse after discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs in patients with benign epilepsy of childhood with centro-temporal spikes(BECT). METHODS: The subjects were 57 patients with BECT, who visited our hospital from January 1990 to December 2004. They were followed up for more than 24 months after discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs. And they were analysed on the relapse rate and the factors that were presumed to influence the relapse. RESULTS: Seizures were relapsed in 7 of 57 patients(12.2%) after discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs. Relapses were more frequent in patients who took antiepileptic drugs for seizure control more than 12 months(15.0%) than those who didn't(10.8%). Moreover, more relapses occurred to those who were at higher age at onset and who took antiepileptic drugs less than 36 months(100%). Furthermore, those who had abnormalities in EEG experienced more relapses(33.3%) than others. The relapse rate was not significantly different in the aspect of and sex seizure frequency after discontinuation of medication between relapsed and non-relapsed patients. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that we should consider the risk factors of relapse in patients with BECT in order to avoid relapse when discontinuing antiepileptic drugs. Moreover, further studies are needed to clarify the risk factors of relapse.
Anticonvulsants* ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy* ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Seizures

PURPOSE: We tried to discover the voiding patterns, which was diurnal & nocturnal urinary volume and voiding frequencies in women with overactive bladder (OAB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All voided volumes, times and frequencies were recorded in 249 women with overactive bladder. The subjects age related changes in bladder capacity, urinary volume and frequency were evaluated. The causes of nocturnal urinary frequency and its increase with age in older women with OAB were evaluated using 3 days of voiding diaries. Nocturia was devided into three types: nocturnal polyuria, decreased nocturnal bladder capacity and mixed type. RESULTS: Total voided volume, daytime urine volume, functional bladder capacity were decreased with the age. Nocturnal urine volume and nocturnal urinary frequency were increased with age. Nocturnal polyuria was the major cause for nocturia, and mixed type was increased with age. CONCLUSIONS: Voiding symptoms as well as storage symptoms were increased with age in OAB female. In most cases, nocturia was caused by nocturnal polyuria.
Aging ; Female ; Humans ; Nocturia ; Polyuria ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive*

PURPOSE: The prevalence of Reye syndrome has decreased since late 1980's. But we report that recently there were concentrative attacks of Reye syndrome after acute enteritis during the neonatal period. METHODS: Clinical symptoms and laboratory results(quantitative organic acid analysis, routine chemistry, arterial blood gas analysis, serum ammonia) of seven patients admitted at the Samsung Medical Center, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Wonju Christian Hospital and Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, referred from Jan. 2005 to Apr. 2005, were analysed retrospectively. The major clinical symptoms were derived from the patients' clinical records sended with urine samples and quantification of organic acids were done with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The mean age of seven cases is 18 days and the major preceding symptoms were gastrointestinal symptoms(vomiting, diarrhea, refusal to feeding). The major clinical symptoms were clouded conciousness, repiratory difficulty, vomiting, seizures, and diarrhea. One patient died; that patient's serum ammonia was twenty times higher than normal. CONCLUSION: The seven patients were neonates. Reye syndrome has been known to be closely related with upper respiratory infections as a preceding disease and to internal use of aspirin, but in our study, the major preceding disease of the seven cases was gastrointestinal infection and none of these used aspirin.
Ammonia ; Aspirin ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Chemistry ; Chromatography, Gas ; Diarrhea ; Disulfiram ; Enteritis* ; Gangwon-do ; Heart ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Mass Spectrometry ; Prevalence ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Reye Syndrome* ; Seizures ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Although actinic keratoses is the most common precancerous cutaneous lesion, there has been no clinical and histopathological study about actinic keratoses in Korea. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to carry out a clinical and histopathological study about actinic keratoses in Korea. METHODS: 158 patients, diagnosed with actinic keratoses from 1987 to 1995 in Korea, were analyzed clinically and histopathologically. RESULTS: 1. The ratio of males to females was 1:2.4 and the most frequent age groups were the 6th(29.1%) and 7th decade(33.5%). 2. The duration of the lesions was more than 1 year in most cases. 3. The most commonly involved sites were the face, in which the cheek, nose and forehead were the most common sites. 4. Clinically, the size of the lesions was less than 1cm in many cases(66.8%). The color was erythematous in 57.9%, brownish in 26.7%, and dark brownish in 15.3%. Crust and scale were noted in 28.7% and 25.2%, respectively. In 4% of patients, cutaneous horn also was noted. 5. Squamous cell carcinoma was associated with actinic keratoses in 5.7%, basal cell carcinoma in 3.2%, and keratoacanthoma in 1.3%. 6. Histopathologically, hypertrophic types of actinic keratoses were noted in 25.0%, atrophic types in 21.3%, hypertrophic and atrophic types in 18.1%, bowenoid types in 17.6%, acantholytic types in 13.3%, and pigmented types in 4.7%. 7. The most commonly used methods of treatment for actinic keratoses were cryotherapy, surgical excision, 5 FU ointment, and electrodesiccation with good effect. CONCLUSION: Actinic keratoses in Koreans was present on the face most commonly over 50 years of age. It showed a more frequent incidence in females than males. The clinical course of the lesions was chronic and the association with other cutaneous malignancies was noted to be less than 6%. The various histopathological types were noted, including hypertrophic, atrophic, hypertrophic and atrophic, bowenoid, acantholytic, and pigmented. The most commonly used methods of treatment. for actinic keratoses were cryotherapy, surgical excision, 5-FU ointment, and electrodesiccation.
Actins* ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cheek ; Cryotherapy ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; Forehead ; Horns ; Humans ; Incidence ; Keratoacanthoma ; Keratosis, Actinic* ; Korea* ; Male ; Nose