Median raphe cyst is known as congenital lesion of the perineum and genitalia, but its etiology is unclear. Most investigators believe that the median raphe cyst represent defects in the embryologic developenient bf the male genitalia. Simple surgical excision is effective in most cases. We report our experience with two cases of median raphe cyst without specific symptoms. Even though median raphe cyst is asymptomatic, surgical therapy is worth applicable because it relieve a patient from cosmetic and psychotic problem.
Genitalia ; Genitalia, Male ; Humans ; Male ; Perineum ; Research Personnel

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*

Cutaneous urinary diversion with intestinal conduits after cystectomy in bladder cancer has been popular. However, because of loss of continence and storage capacity of the lower urinary tract, the situation of patients with an ileal conduit was far from satisfactory with respect to quality of life. Recently, continent urinary diversion has begun to achieve worldwide popularity as Kock, Mainz, or Indiana pouch techniques have been more feasible and accessible, but these techniques have been known as time consuming procedures. In high risk patients with bladder carcinoma more simple techniques of urinary diversion is needed. Herein, we report the outcome of ureteroappendicocutaneostomy (appendix conduit) with radical cystectomy performed in 4 bladder carcinoma patients in whom unilateral nephroureterectomy was necessary or previously done.
Cystectomy ; Humans ; Indiana ; Quality of Life ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Diversion ; Urinary Tract

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to analyze the treatment failure patterns and the risk factors for locoregional or distant failure of uterine cervical carcinoma treated with radiation therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was undertaken of 154 patients treated with curative radiation therapy in Gyeongsang National University Hospital from April 1989 through December 1997. According to FIGO classification, 12 patients were stage IB, 24 were IIA, 98 were IIB, 1 were IIIA, 17 were IIIB, 2 were IVA. RESULTS: Overall treatment failure rate was 42.1% (65/154), and that of complete responder was 31.5% (41/130). Among 65 failures, 25 failed locoregionally, another 25 failed distantly, and 15 failed locoregionally and distantly. Multivariate analysis confirmed tumor size (>4 cm) as risk factor for locoregional failure, and tumor size (>4 cm), pelvic lymph node involvement as risk factors for distant failure. CONCLUSION: On the basis of results of our study and recent published data of prospective randomized study for locally advanced uterine cervical carcinoma, we concluded that uterine cervical carcinoma with size more than 4 cm or pelvic lymph node involvement should be treated with concurrent chemoradiation.
Classification ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Radiotherapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Failure* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

The authors had five cases of penoplasty from more than half of the scrotum to the suprapubic region using a fasciocutaneous radial forearm free flap (RFFF) after extensive excision of sclerosing lipogranuloma. Although the harvested RFFF was a rectangular shape, the authors made the shape of scrotum, penile shaft, and suprapubic region by using well designed geometry and several quilting sutures on junction of scrotum and penis. The contour of scrotum and penis was well maintained, and there were no complications, such as scrotal contracture, penile deformity, and erectile dysfunction during the one year follow up period in all five cases. There were no recurrent lesions and no need for further surgery.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forearm* ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Granuloma ; Male ; Penis ; Scrotum* ; Sutures

This study surveyed the prevalence of traumatic reticular diseases (TRD) of slaughter cattle in Korea, the typology of the causative foreign bodies and the effects on beef quality and carcass weight. The overall prevalence of TRD in 3,121 slaughter cattle was 5.5%. However, the prevalence was significantly higher in Korea indigenous cattle Hanwoo (5.8%, p < 0.05) and female cattle (20.75%, p < 0.001). The prevalence significantly increased in aged cattle (p < 0.001). Major lesions related to foreign bodies were reticulitis (96%) and peritonitis (86%). Most causative foreign bodies were made of iron including nails, wires, steel rods, screw nails, and syringe needles. Cattle affected with TRD produced significantly lower grade quality of beef compared to normal cattle (p < 0.0001), but TRD did not affect carcass weight. The data will be useful in the management of TRD, with the aim of increasing beef productivity in Korea.
Aged ; Animals ; Cattle ; Efficiency ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Iron ; Korea ; Nails ; Needles ; Peritonitis ; Prevalence ; Steel ; Syringes

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

BACKGROUND: The Cordis coronary stent is a flexible, balloon expandable, radiopaque tantalum stent. Previous reports have shown excellent initial clinical outcomes. To our knowledge, there is no report of the long-term clinical outcomes. The intensely radiopaque tantalum may interfere with the angiographic assessment. We intended to evaluate long-term clinical and angiographic restenosis rates after successful implantation of the Cordis tantalum coronary stent. METHOD: Two hundred and eighty-five consecutive patients with 300 lesions were treated with 366 Cordis stents. An angiographic follow-up substudy was performed in 190 lesions ; 6 month follow-up angiograms were available in 167(88%). At follow-up, intravascular ultrasound(IVUS) was performed to (1) determine the pattern of restenosis and (2) to validate the quantitative coronary angiographic(QCA) caliper measurements. RESULTS: IVUS and QCA caliper measurement of minimal luminal diameter correlated reliably (r=0.767, p<0.001). The QCA analysis detected diffuse in-stent restenosis more reliably than focal in-stent restenosis(p<0.01). The overall angiographic restenosis rate was 19%, The factors affecting angiographic restenosis were post-stent minimum lumen diameter, type C lesion, and reference vessel size. CONCLUSION: We concluded 1) The angiographic restenosis rate of Cordis stent was comparable to that of other slotted-tube stent. 2) The QCA caliper method is reliable for the assessment of Cordis in-stent restenosis, especially in the detection of diffuse in-stent restenosis. However, QCA may miss focal in-stent restenosis only detectable by IVUS
Coronary Artery Disease ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Phenobarbital ; Stents* ; Tantalum*

BACKGROUND: Recently, several reports regarding the protected and/or unprotected left main stenting suggested the possibility of percutaneous intervention for this prohibited area. We intented to evaluate immediate and long-term outcomes after elective stenting of unprotected left main coronary artery in selected patients. METHOD: Forty eight consecutive patients with unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis and normal left ventricular function were treated with stents implantation. The poststent antithrombotic regimen were aspirin, ticlopidine with warfarin in 14 pateints or without warfarin in 34 patients. The stents for left main coronary artery stenosis were Palmaz-Schatz stent in 25, NIR stent in 8, Multi-link stent in 3, Cordis stent in 7, Palmaz stent in 2, Gianturco-Roubin stent II in 2, and Microstent in 1 patient. Intravascular ultrasound was performed in selected patients before predilation and after stenting at late stage of this study. RESULTS: The procedural success rate was 100%. Regardless of anticoagulation, the in hospital complication including stent thrombosis, myocardial infarction, emergency bypass surgery and death did not occur. Six-months follow-up angiography was performed in 31 patients(82%) of 38 eligible patients. The angiographic restenosis occurred in 7 patients(22%) who subsequently underwent elective coronary bypass surgery in 5 patients and rotational atherectomy/balloon angioplasty in 2 patients. The target lesion revascularization rate was 18%. One death(3%) occurred 2 days after elective coronary bypass surgery during follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Stenting of unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis might be a safe and effective alternative to bypass surgery in carefully selected patients with normal left ventricular function. However, further clinical study should be needed for the late outcomes with larger numbers of patients.
Angiography ; Angioplasty ; Aspirin ; Coronary Stenosis* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Emergencies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Stents* ; Thrombosis ; Ticlopidine ; Ultrasonography ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Warfarin

The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in erectile physiology by correlating its action with the existence and activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which produces NO. We applied Western blot analysis in both human and rat penile tissue. In the rat, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) diaphorase staining and spectrophotometric assay were also performed, in addition to in vivo electroerection study with pharmacological manipulation. Western blot analysis identified a protein of 155 KDa identical to the neural form of NOS in the human and rat penis. The NOS blot densities in the two species were similar, and both were lower than that in the rat cerebellum. Histochemical staining localized NOS to neurons innervating the corpora cavernosa, including the pelvic plexus, the cavernosal nerves and their terminal fibers within the corporeal erectile tissue, and dorsal penile nerves. NOS activity was also found in the cerebellum, urethra, penis, and urinary bladder, in decreasing order of intensity. Intracavernous injections of NOS inhibitor (L-NOARG or L-NAME in concentrations from 10(-6) M to 10(-3) M suppressed electrostimulation-induced erection in a concentration-dependent manner. Subsequent intracavernous injection of L-Arginine (10(-2) M) partially restored the erection. The neural form of constitutive NOS in the corpora cavernosa synthesizes NO, which mediates penile erection. Determination of cavernosal NOS expression or activity may permit characterization of certain pathological conditions that cause impotence.
Animal ; Human ; Male ; Nitric Oxide/physiology* ; Nitric-Oxide Synthase/metabolism ; Penile Erection/physiology* ; Penis/enzymology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley