PURPOSE: To evaluate whether radial rigidity measured using RigiScan(R) represents the intracorporeal pressure effectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1998 to May 1999, total of 23 patients with erectile dysfunction were evaluated by RigiScan(R) and duplex ultrasonography after the intracorporeal injection of prostaglandin E1. Peak systolic velocity and end diastolic velocity were measured by duplex ultrasonography and then the resistance index was calculated as (peak systolic velocity-end diastolic velocity)/(peak systolic velocity). Radial rigidity of penile tip and base was measured by RigiScanR . The results were analyzed statistically by PC-SPSS version 7.5. RESULTS: There were statistically significant correlations between radial rigidity of penile tip and base and the resistance index by Spearman's correlation analysis, respectively (r=0.680, p<0.001)(r=0.703, p<0.001). When radial rigidity of penile tip and base exceeded 60% of maximum, radial rigidity of penile tip and base again correlated well with the resistance index, respectively (r=0.659, p=0.020)(r=0.759, p=0.011). Based on clinically determined degree of erection, radial rigidity of penile tip and base represented the intracorporeal pressure effectively. CONCLUSIONS: Radial rigidity measured by RigiScan(R) represents the intracorporeal pressure effectively.
Alprostadil* ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Male ; Ultrasonography

Several observation suggest that the antimelanocyte autoantibodies could play a role in melanocyte destruction. Some experiments indicate that melanocyte antibodies from patients with vitiligo can kill melanocyte in vitro. In these experiments, we demonstrated that vitiligo patient's sera containing antimelanocyte antibodies can lyse cultured human melanocytes by complement activation. Melanocyte cytotoxicity was measured using the ethidium bromide/ acridine orange viability assay. Significant melanocyte cytotoxicity was seen in sera from patients with both active and inactive vitiligo(p<0.01). Melanocyte cytotoxicity measured with complement-mediated cytotoxicity decreased after systemic steroid treatment(p<0.05) ; however melanocyte cytotoxicity showed no significant change with systemic PUVA therapy.
Acridine Orange ; Antibodies ; Autoantibodies* ; Complement Activation ; Ethidium ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; PUVA Therapy ; Vitiligo*

We investigated the clinical aspect and immunologic parameters of childhood and adult vitiligo in our clinics and made a comparative study. The childhood vitiligo showed the following results : similar incidence of clinical patterns with adults except for the lower incidence of the acrofacial type than in adults ; less involvement in the extent of lesion of disease than in adults ; higher incidence of family history than with adults ; of the precipitating factors, trauma is the main one whereas emotional stress is for adults ; higher association with halo nevi than adults ; and lower incidence of serum autoantibodies than adults. We have ascertained that childhood vitiligo is a distinct subset of vitiligo, showing the above features which will be studied in more patients in a long term follow-up clinical study.
Adult ; Autoantibodies ; Clinical Study ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Nevus, Halo ; Precipitating Factors ; Stress, Psychological ; Vitiligo

No Abstract Available.
Acanthoma*

PURPOSE: To determine whether the preoperative residual urine fraction(RF) correlates with the change in the maximal flow rate(Qmax) in patients treated for benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 1995 to June 1999, 81 men aged 54 to 82 years (mean: 65.4 +/- 6.7 years) with BPH were examined with Qmax and residual volume using uroflometry and ultrasonography, respectively, before and after transurethral resection of the prostate. The RF was defined as the postvoiding residual/premicturition volume x100. Statistical analysis was performed by simple linear regression using SPSS. RESULTS: The magnitude of improvement in Qmax postoperatively was greatest in patients who had preoperative Qmax < 12mL/sec and RF > 25, followed by Qmax < 12mL/sec and RF < 25, Qmax > 12mL/sec and RF > 25, and Qmax > 12mL/sec and RF < 25. The extent of improvement in Qmax in patients had a value < 12mL/sec was significantly better than that in patients who had a value > 12mL/sec. Among patients who had a Qmax > 12mL/sec preoperatively, the improvement in those who had an RF > 25 was significant better than that in patients who had an RF < 25. CONCLUSION: We suggest that RF and Qmax may have the value as indicator for surgery of benign prostatic hyperplasia preoperatively. The higher RF and Qmax, the poorer postoperative Qmax are anticipates in the patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Residual Volume ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate* ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Stroke*

PURPOSE: To investigate whether residual urine fraction can predict the outcome after transurethral resection of prostate in benign prostatic hyperplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 1995 to June 1999, benign prostatic hyperplasia aged 54 to 82years(mean: 65.4+/-6.7years) were examined with maximal flow rate and postvoid residual using uroflometry and ultrasonography, respectively, before and after transurethral resection of prostate. Residual urine fraction was defined as postvoid residual/pre-micturition volumex100. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between pre-micturition volume and postvoid residual and the variation of residual urine fraction was significantly narrower than that of postvoid residual. Residual urine fraction was inversely correlated with postoperative maximal flow rate in patients whose preoperative maximal flow rate were above 12 ml/sec. CONCLUSIONS: Residual urine fraction is more reliable than postvoid residual. So, we suggest that residual urine fraction is more accurate index than postvoid residual in accessing of bladder emptying and may predict the treatment outcome in selected patients, if it is combined with preoperative maximal flow rate.
Humans ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate* ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder

Postpubertal mumps may result in ochitis and permanent testicular atrophy may develop following infection. This present study was initiated to evaluate the preventive effect of interferon-alpha2B on infertilty after mumps orchitis. There were 21 patients with mumps orchitis between May 1990 and June 1997. Patients were randomly distributed into 2 groups: group 1 patients (n=13) maintained therapy with interferon-alpha2B (3x10(6) IU per day) and group 2 were managed by conservatively. All of the patients were evaluated with testis size measurement, mumps virus titer, hormone level, and if possible semen analysis. For group 1 patients symptoms disappeared within 2 to 3 days and the volume of testis returned to normal within 11 days and testis atrophy was not observed in all patients in follow up. But asthenospermia was continued in 4 patients (unilateral 2, bilateral 2). For group 2 patients symptoms disappeared within 5 to 6 days and the volume of testis returned to normal within 10 days and testis atrophy was observed in 3 patients (unilateral 2, bilateral 1) in floow up. Asthenospermia was continued in 4 patients (unilateral 2, bilateral 2). Sperm count and morphology were recovered all the recover in group 1, 4 patients had persistent reduced sperm count and morphology in group 2, respectively. These observations suggest that systemic interferon-alpha2B treatment is highly effective in preventing infertility as well as testicular atrophy after mumps orchitis.
Atrophy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infertility* ; Male ; Mumps virus ; Mumps* ; Orchitis* ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Testis

PURPOSE: To investigate whether the result of RigiScan after intracorporeal injection could predict the result of duplex ultrasonography, and determine the necessity of duplex ultrasonography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed both RigiScan and duplex ultrasonography after intracorporeal injection in 18 men with erectile dysfunction. All of the patients were evaluated by history taking, physical examination, laboratory test, hormonal tests, and neurologic examination before RigiScan and duplex ultrasonography. We measured maximal arterial diameter, peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity using a 7 MHz. color Doppler unit and these results of duplex ultrasonography were compared with penile rigidity and tumescence measured by RigiScan. RESULTS: The positive and negative predictive value of RigiScan were 81.8% and 85.7%, respectively. The result of RigiScan was comparable with that of duplex ultrasonography and the accuracy of RigiScan was resonable. CONCLUSIONS: According to this results, duplex ultrasonography was needed if the response of RigiScan is abnormal after intracorporeal injection. However, duplex ultrasonography can be ommitted if the response of RigiScan is normal after intracorporeal injection.
Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Neurologic Examination ; Physical Examination ; Ultrasonography*

Dermal melanocytosis is observed in various congenital conditions including nevus of Ota, nevus of Ito and Mongolian spot. It usually appears at birth or in early childhood. Several types of acquired dermal melanocytosis which usually appear in adult life have been reported. As the late onset has been stressed, the term acquired is used. We report two cases of acquired dermal melanocytosis on the forearm and the back without any similar pigmentation elsewhere on the body. The first case is a 47-year-old man who had numerous grey-blue colored macules and patches on the upper back. Histopathologic findings showed a large number of spindle-shaped cells containing melanin granules in the dermis. On electron microscopy, dermal melanocytes with stage 3, 4 melanosomes and lipid droplet were observed. The second one is a 13-year-old girl who had a 3.8 X 2.5 cm sized dark grey colored patch on the left forearm. Histopathologic and EM finding were similar to case 1. We treated both cases with topical cream(retinoid and hydroquinone), but could not observe improvement. Their lesions have persisted without any change.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Dermis ; Female ; Forearm ; Humans ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Melanosomes ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Aged ; Mongolian Spot ; Nevus ; Nevus of Ota ; Parturition ; Pigmentation