Traditionally, the Rhododendron species has been used in gastrointestinal disorder or hypertension. Grayanotoxin exists in honey, flowers, pollen, and the nectar of the Rhododendron species. We experienced 3 cases of Grayanotoxin intoxication. The symptoms of intoxication were nausea, vomiting, hypotension, bradycardia, diplopia, dizziness, and chest discomfort. Generally, the treatment for Grayanotoxin intoxication is fluid resuscitation and injection of atropine sulfate. The patients who were intoxicated with Grayanotoxin were discharged without complication after supportive care.
Atropine ; Bradycardia ; Diplopia ; Dizziness ; Flowers ; Honey ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypotension ; Nausea ; Plant Nectar ; Pollen ; Resuscitation ; Rhododendron ; Thorax ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Paraquat is widely used herbicide. But if it is ingested by accident or by suicidal attempt it causes severe toxicity. And in emergency room, it is a big problem that there is no effective treatment modality for paraquat intoxication. It is reported that the mechanism of toxicity is by oxygen fee radical. And Vitamin C is known as potent antioxidant. This study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant effect of Vitamin C to lipid peroxidaton in paraquat intoxication. METHODS: 24 rats were divided to 6 groups after paraquat injection(20mg/kg), and each groups 4 rats. In 2 control groups we only observed until 6 hours and 24 hours. And Vitamin C of 10 mg per kilogram body weight on the low dose group and 100 mg per kilogram body weight on the high dose group were infected simultaneously. And in 6 hours group, after 6 hours of paraquat and vitamin C injection biochemical levels of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and catalase were measured in liver and lung. And in 24 hours group after 24 hours the same measures were done. The stasistical methods used were ANNOVA and Mann-Whitney test and P-value was 0.05. RESULTS: Malondialdehyde level of high dose Vitamin C group was significantly low compared to that of the control groups in liver tissues after 24 hours(p<0.05). And in lung tissues both low dose and high dose vitamin C groups show significantly low level of malondialdehyde level after 24 hours(p<0.05). On the superoxide dismutase activity, only high dose Vitamin C group shows significantly high level in 24hours both in liver and lung tissues. And the catalase activity is significantly elevated in high dome Vitamin C group after 24hours both in liver and lung tissues. (p<0.05) CONCLUSION: High dose Vitamin C suppresses lipid peroxidation, increases catalase activity and superoxide dismutase activity in paraquat intoxiation. It is thought to by antioxidant elect of vitamin C but it's effect is observed only in 24 hours after intoxication.
Animals ; Antioxidants* ; Ascorbic Acid* ; Body Weight ; Catalase ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Fees and Charges ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver ; Lung ; Malondialdehyde ; Oxygen ; Paraquat* ; Poisoning* ; Rats ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Vitamins*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of urologic cancer in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1998 and December 2002 the Korean Urologic Oncology Society (KUOS) decided to evaluate the incidence of Korean urologic cancer. The URO-DMS data obtained by 86 training hospital was analyzed. First, the disease code was simplified; for example, renal cell carcinoma (C64), and thereafter, evaluated for incidence and prevalence, etc. RESULTS: A total of 35,480 patients were newly diagnosed over this period. Bladder cancer was the most common (42.9%) urologic cancer, followed by prostate (26.4%), kidney (22.4%), ureter (3.7%), renal pelvis (3.0%), testis (2.8%), penile (0.2%), urethral (0.1%) and scrotal cancers (0.1%). Male patients outnumbered the females by a ratio of 4.4:1. The incidence rates per 100,000 males for prostate and testicular cancers were 7.73 and 0.81, respectively. The incidence rates per 100,000 persons for bladder, renal, ureter and renal pelvis cancers were 6.36, 3.30, 0.55 and 0.44, respectively. Cancers of the prostate and kidney increased rapidly, but the others increased steadily. CONCLUSIONS: It is hoped that these results would contribute to cancer research and control of cancers in Korea.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Female ; Hope ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Kidney Pelvis ; Korea* ; Male ; Prevalence ; Prostate ; Testicular Neoplasms ; Testis ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urologic Neoplasms*

Isolated rupture of distal semitendinosus is reported rarely. Here, we report a case of 51-year-old previous healthy working man diagnosed with isolated semitendinosus tendon rupture treated successfully by conservative management.
Athletes ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Rupture ; Tendons

Mucosal spreading of urothelial tumors to the seminal vesicles is very rare. We experienced a case of mucosal involvement of the seminal vesicles by a bladder tumor in a 72-year-old man. The patient had a history of transurethral resection for invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder 8 years previously. Radical cystoprostatectomy was performed owing to recurrent and multiple urothelial carcinoma in situ. Microscopically, the urothelial carcinoma in situ was throughout the mucosa of the urinary bladder, both ureters, the prostate, and the left seminal vesicle. To date, the implication of mucosal involvement of the seminal vesicles by urothelial carcinoma is unclear. However, careful microscopic examination is needed to avoid an erroneous diagnosis.
Aged ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Prostate ; Seminal Vesicles ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

Extramammary Paget's disease is a rare clinicopathologic entity. Because it is often associated with a subjacent or visceral malignancy and recurrence, extramammary Paget's disease is considered as malignant condition. We present one case of extramammary Paget's disease involving the penis and scrotum with clinical presentation and brief review of relevant literature.
Male ; Paget Disease, Extramammary* ; Penis* ; Recurrence ; Scrotum*

Objective To evaluate a fast-hardening strontium-calcium phosphate scaffold using a two-step reaction in room temperature.Methods The original powder phase consisted of tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP),dicalcium phosphate anhydrous (DCPA) and strontium hydrogen phosphate (DSPA).The liquid phase consisted of 20wt％ citric acid and 12wt％ polyvinylpyrrolidone K-30.Groups were designed as Sr-0,Sr-5,Sr-10,and Sr-20,according to the molar ratios of Sr/(Sr + Ca) being 0,5％,10％,and 20％ in the powder phase,respectively.The ratio 0.5 mL/g in the liquid to solid phase was used for mixing.After the scaffold was prepared,its setting time,compression strength,phase composition and structural morphology,ions release and pH value of the substrates were analyzed.Results Addition of citric acid accelerated the setting reaction.Acceptable setting time was achieved by optimizing composition of the original powder and liquid phases.On the other hand,the compression strength,phase composition and structural morphology were not affected by addition of strontium.In addition,calcium and strontium ions were detected in the substrates,without any significant change in the pH value.Conclusion This two-step reaction can be used to prepare a fast hardening strontium-calcium phosphate scaffold in room temperature.

The vertebral artery is infrequently injured because it lies deep in the neck, surrounded for the most part by bony foramina. Vertebral artery injuries are caused by penetrating traumas, blunt traumas and iatrogenic injuries. Sequela of vertebral artery injury include arteriovenous (AV) fistulae, and pseudoaneurysms may appear months after injury. Angiography is currently the gold standard for evaluating vascular injuries, such as vertebral artery injuries, and can be therapeutic. A vertebral artery fistula can also be treated by operative ligation. We experienced a rare case of a vertebro-jugular AV fistula secondary to a cervical stab wound. In this case, the patient was successfully treated by coil embolization and glue injection during angiography, which was confirmed by a postangiograpy operation.
Adhesives ; Aneurysm, False ; Angiography ; Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Fistula ; Humans ; Ligation ; Neck ; Vascular System Injuries ; Vertebral Artery ; Wounds, Stab

BACKGROUND: Advance in sepsis management has increased the survival of patients with sepsis. However, severe sepsis and septic shock patients still have high mortality. We intend to verify the use of the procalcitonin (PCT) level as a prognosis marker in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock in the emergency department (ED). METHODS: ED Patients with severe sepsis or septic shock were enrolled in our study. We used mortality and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) days as a prognosis index, and compared the PCT level in survivors and non-survivors. We introduced the simplified acute physiology score 3(SAPS3) to assess the severity of the patients and analyzed whether or not the PCT level correlated with the severity index. RESULTS: The PCT level in septic shock patients [7.36 (0.92-33.69, IQR)] was higher than that in severe sepsis patients [3.24 (0.36-10.53, IQR)] (p = 0.04). However, there was no significant PCT level difference between survivors [median (IQR), 6.59 (0.60-29.25)] and non-survivors [median (IQR), 3.49 (0.40-20.41)] (p = 0.293). The SAPS3 score was higher in the non-survivor group [median (IQR), 64 (59.0-71.5)] than in the survivor group [median (IQR), 77 (68.5-82.0)] (p = 0.001). The PCT level did not correlate with either ICU days or hospital days. CONCLUSIONS: Using the PCT level as a prognosis factor in severe sepsis and septic shock patients in ED has little value.
Calcitonin ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Prognosis ; Protein Precursors ; Sepsis ; Shock ; Shock, Septic ; Survivors

PURPOSE: Due to its rapidity and easy accessibility, the fingerstick blood glucometer has been used in almost all hospitals and private clinics, and even by patients themselves. We also have used it even in shock patient care, but shock shows global tissue hypoperfusion, especially in peripheral tissue. The changes of peripheral circulation have an influence on the results for fingerstick glucose. To evaluate the accuracy of the glucometer for patients with poor peripheral perfusion, we designed this study. METHODS: A prospective, nonrandomized comparison group study was done. A hypotensive group and a normotensive group were compared. We obtained three data from each patient: venous blood glucose level (clinicopathologic laboratory), venous blood glucose level (by glucometer) and fingerstick glucose level (by glucometer). RESULTS: We saw a significant difference between the fingerstick glucometer results and the laboratory glucose levels in hypotensive patients: 131.67+/-55.33 mg/dl vs. 1 4 7 . 2 3+/-62.06 mg/dl (paired t-test, p<0.05). There was no significant difference between fingerstick and laboratory glucose in normotensive patients: 101.75+/-20.14 mg/dl vs. 1 0 5 . 6 0+/-21.95 mg/dl (paired t-test, p>0.05). There was no significant difference between the results of venous glucometer and laboratory test in either group: 142.37+/-61.27 mg/dl vs. 147.23+/-62.06 mg/dl (paired t-test, p>0.05) and 102.98+/-17.02 mg/dl vs. 105.60+/-21.95 mg/dl (paired t-test, p>0.05). Although some statistical differences existed between the results, all of the error rates were in an acceptable range (within 15%, accepted by American Diabetes Association consensus). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the blood glucose level of the glucometer with venous blood is more accurate than that with peripheral blood in patients with poor peripheral circulation.
Blood Glucose* ; Glucose ; Humans ; Patient Care ; Perfusion ; Prospective Studies ; Shock