A case of a 20-year old Korean adolescent who had large (child-head sized) embryonal carcinoma of left testis was presented. Literature was also briefly reviewed.
Adolescent ; Carcinoma, Embryonal ; Humans ; Testis ; Young Adult

A reduced retroversion angle of humeral head may predispose to recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation and may also be a factor in persistent instability after soft tissue procedures. Rotation osteotomy of proximal humerus is one of many surgical modalities proposed for recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation. To support such an operation, fundamental knowledge of shoulder anatomy is essential. The semi-axial view by Soderlund have been regarded as simple and reliable method for measuring humeral head retroversion angle. The purpose of this study was to evaluate validity of the semi-axial view and to assess reference values for humeral head retroversion angle in Korean. Humeral head retroversion angle was determined from 80 healthy subjects, 48 men and 32 women. Radiographs which shown less than 10degrees between humeral shaft axis and epicondylar axis were defined as acceptable radiographs by Soderlund. Acceptable radiographs were selected and two orthopedic surgeons measured retroversion angle, separately. Acceptable radiographs were obtained in only 70 shoulders (43.8%). The mean angle was 35.2+/-8.24degrees for dominant hand and 32+/-6.27degrees for nondominant in Korean. The mean angle was 35.3+/- 7.78degrees for right side and 31.9+/-6.8degrees for left. The interobserver difference was 2.9degrees. The semi-axial view by Soderlund was not reproducible solely. But if correct arm position is considered, the method presented is easy to use daily.
Arm ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Humeral Head* ; Humerus ; Male ; Orthopedics ; Osteotomy ; Reference Values ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Dislocation

This study examined the characteristics of people who have preference for complementary medicine and also the psychosocial factors that are related to the selection of complementary medicine. Two-hunred subjects recruited from the community were included in this study. Demographic variables, medical service characteristics, health locus of control, social support, coping style, and personality charateritics such as self-esteem, neuroticism, and hypochondriasis were measured. It turned out that nearly 80% of the subjects had already experienced at least one alternative therapy in the past. However, past expeiece was not significant in predicting future complementary medicine usage. People who were older in age, had more information about complementary medicine, used active-behavioural coping styles, and had internal locus of control were more likely to use complementary medicine in the future. Recommenations for furthur research is indicated.
Complementary Therapies* ; Hypochondriasis ; Internal-External Control ; Psychology

No abstract available.
Humans ; Mothers*

Background: The incidence and mortality of liver cancer show a great difference between the sexes. We established sex-dependent liver cancer xenograft models and investigated whether such sex-dependent models could be used to simultaneously evaluate the therapeutic and adverse effects of anticancer drugs for drug screening. Results: In the in-vitro test, the cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs (cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and doxorubicin) was compared between male- and female-derived liver cancer cell lines. Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil exhibited cytotoxicity without sex-difference, but doxorubicin showed dose-dependently significant cytotoxicity only in male-derived cells. Our results showed a strong correlation between preclinical and clinical data with the use of sex-dependent liver cancer xenograft models. Moreover, the male-derived Hep3B-derived xenograft model was more sensitive than the female-derived SNU-387-derived xenograft model against doxorubicin treatment. Doxorubicin showed more severe cardiotoxicity in the male xenograft model than in the female model. We investigated the occurrence frequency of doxorubicin-related cardiotoxicity using data obtained from the Korea Institute of Drug Safety & Risk Management Database, but no significant difference was observed between the sexes. Conclusions Our results suggest that sex-dependent xenograft models are useful tools for evaluating the therapeutic and adverse effects of anticancer drugs, because sex is an important consideration in drug development.

Background: The incidence and mortality of liver cancer show a great difference between the sexes. We established sex-dependent liver cancer xenograft models and investigated whether such sex-dependent models could be used to simultaneously evaluate the therapeutic and adverse effects of anticancer drugs for drug screening. Results: In the in-vitro test, the cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs (cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and doxorubicin) was compared between male- and female-derived liver cancer cell lines. Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil exhibited cytotoxicity without sex-difference, but doxorubicin showed dose-dependently significant cytotoxicity only in male-derived cells. Our results showed a strong correlation between preclinical and clinical data with the use of sex-dependent liver cancer xenograft models. Moreover, the male-derived Hep3B-derived xenograft model was more sensitive than the female-derived SNU-387-derived xenograft model against doxorubicin treatment. Doxorubicin showed more severe cardiotoxicity in the male xenograft model than in the female model. We investigated the occurrence frequency of doxorubicin-related cardiotoxicity using data obtained from the Korea Institute of Drug Safety & Risk Management Database, but no significant difference was observed between the sexes. Conclusions Our results suggest that sex-dependent xenograft models are useful tools for evaluating the therapeutic and adverse effects of anticancer drugs, because sex is an important consideration in drug development.

Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is a rare, autosomal dominantly transmitted familial, hereditary disease. This disease genetically predisposes affected people to the development of some types of tumor, such as cerebellar, spinal and medullary hemangioblastomas, and retinal angiomas, renal cell carcinomas and pheochromocytomas. Herein, a case of a cystic renal cell carcinoma, accompanied by Von Hippel-Lindau disease, treated by nephron sparing surgery, is reported. The VHL gene mutation of this case was also identified.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; Hemangioblastoma ; Hemangioma ; Nephrons* ; Pheochromocytoma ; Retinaldehyde ; von Hippel-Lindau Disease*

PURPOSE: Men with documented chronic prostatitis, with elevated serum prostate specific antigen (PSA), were investigated to assess whether treatment lowers serum PSA and thus avoids unnecessary biopsies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 46 men who presented with serum PSA higher than 4ng/ml, and subsequently diagnosed with chronic prostatitis, were retrospectively reviewed. After the administration of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs for 4 to 8 weeks, the follow-up PSA levels were determined, and those with levels higher than 4ng/ml underwent a prostate biopsy. RESULTS: The mean PSA level decreased 61% from 11.66ng/ml before, to 3.79ng/ml after, treatment (p<0.001). In 30 patients the serum PSA level decreased to below 4ng/ml (mean 1.69), with these patients no longer having an indication for a prostate biopsy. In the remaining 16 patients the serum PSA level remained elevated above 4ng/ml, so they underwent a prostate biopsy. Pathological study revealed benign prostatic hyperplasia in 11 cases and prostate cancer in 5. The PSA level in patients associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia decreased 61.9% with treatment, from 19.96 to 7.88ng/ml (p=0.006) and the PSA in those associated with prostate cancer decreased 30.6% with treatment, from 12.85 to 7.32ng/ml (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that chronic prostatitis can cause elevation of serum PSA levels, and when identified, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory treatment can lower these levels and an unnecessary prostate biopsy can be avoided.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biopsy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Prostatitis* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Patients that had undergone transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) were evaluated to assess the influence of the amount of resected tissue on the symptomatic improvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 42 men, with symptomatic BPH that had undergone TURP, were enrolled in this retrospective study. 20 and 22 patients with prostate volumes equal or less 30ml (group I) and greater than 30ml (group II), respectively, were evaluated. The resected tissue weight (RTW) and the resected tissue weight ratio (RTWR) were taken as preoperative parameters. The percent changes in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and in the Quality of Life, and the satisfaction score, were used as measures of the symptomatic outcomes. The symptomatic outcomes of the two groups were compared, and the correlations between the RTW and RTWR and the outcomes in each group assessed. RESULTS: All the symptomatic outcomes of group II were more favorable than those of group I. There were significant correlations between the RTW (and RTWR) and all three outcomes in group II, but there were no correlations between groups I and II. CONCLUSIONS: The patients with the smaller prostate volume (equal or less than 30ml in volume) had less symptomatic improvement after TURP, with no benefit in increasing the amount of resected tissue during TURP. It is recommended excessive resection for BPH should be avoided with a small prostate.
Humans ; Hyperplasia* ; Male ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate

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