Urethral injury secondary to blunt trauma in the boys is fairly common occurrence, its diagnosis and management are well documented. Due to the low incidence of urethral injury in girls, there is no settled method of diagnosis and management. In this report, the clinical course of 2 young female patients with complete traumatic rupture of the uretha was evaluated in an effort to propose guide lines for the investigation and initial management of this unusual injury.
Diagnosis ; Female* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pelvic Bones* ; Rupture

PURPOSE: Male sexual desire and erection are directly or indirectly affected by hormone and neuroendocrine response. We investigate the changes of the serum dopamine and testosterone level by visual erotic stimulation-induced sexual excitement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The age of volunteers was ranged from 25 to 65 years, with an average of 45.5years. Serum were collected at rest and after visual erotic stimulation. Sexual excitement induced by erotic film for 30 minutes and erectile status was monitored by Rigiscan. The response of visual erotic stimulation were divided into three groups according to degree of sexual excitement. i.e. no response (Group I), mild excitement(Group II), excitement (Group III). RESULTS: Although some changes were observed in serum dopamine and testosterone level of all 32 patients after visual erotic stimulation, it did not showed statistically signigicant change (p=0.450, p=0.058). According to excitement response, group I and II were not showed statistically significant change in both dopamine and testosterone. Only dopamine of the group III was showed statistically change (dopamine: p=0.041, testosteron: p=0.257) CONCLUSIONS: In this study, serum testosterone level is not showed significant change irrespective of the degree of sexual excitement induced by visual erotic stimulation. However, serum dopamine was changed with statistically significance only in sexual excitement group.
Dopamine* ; Humans ; Male ; Testosterone* ; Volunteers

Classical molluscum contagiosum can be easily diagnosed from clinical examination because of the characteristic cutaneous lesions of umbilicated papules. However, when it occurs as a single growth with atypical presentation, especially on an unusual site, this common disease may give rise to difficulty in diagnosis. Thus, at times histopathological examination is necessary for the proper diagnosis and treatment. We herein describe 5 patients with this solitary molluscum contagiosum, clinically mistaken but histopathologically proven.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Molluscum Contagiosum*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the difference of gene expressions between leiomyoma and normal myometrial tissue was analzed by DNA Chip. METHODS: cDNAs retro-transcribed from equal quantities of mRNA derived from leiomyoma and corresponding normal myometrial tissue were labeled with Cy5 and Cy3 fluorescein as probes. The mixed probe was hybridized with two pieces of 3,066 double dot from a human dermal papilla cell cDNA library and scanned with a laser scanner. The acquired image was analyzed by ImaGene 3.0 software. Validation of gene expression was performed by reverse transcription-Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 5 leiomyomas and corresponding normal myometrial tissues. RESULTS: Among many differentially expressed genes, genes with expression levels more than 3 times were found by comparing leiomyoma with corresponding normal myometrial tissue. One gene with expression levels lesser than 3 times in leiomyoma tissue compared to normal myometrial tissue was also detected. Although alterations of several genes, such as osteoblast specific factor 2, PAI-1 mRNA-binding protein, hydroxyacyl-Coenzyme A dehydrogenase/3-ketoacyl-Coenzyme A thiolase/enoyl-Coenzyme A hydratase alpha subunit (HADHA), p311, DEAD/H (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp/His) box polypeptide 1 (DDX1), Hexokinase 1, 2 were identified in a significant high fraction of uterine leiomyoma compared to normal myometrial tissue. Cyr61 gene was shown to be markedly down-regulated in leiomyoma compared with the matched uterine myometrial control. I validated differential expression of genes by RT-PCR and demonstrated overexpression of OSF-2, HADHA, p311, DDX1, Hexokinase 1, 2. CONCLUSION: DNA chip techniques are effective in screening differential gene expression between leiomyoma tissue and normal myometrial tissue. These genes may be related to the genesis and development of uterine leiomyoma. Analysis of the human leiomyoma gene expression profile by DNA chip may be helpful gene diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this disease.
Diagnosis ; DNA* ; DNA, Complementary ; Fluorescein ; Gene Expression* ; Gene Library ; Hexokinase ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Mass Screening ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis* ; Osteoblasts ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; RNA, Messenger ; Transcriptome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the difference of gene expressions between leiomyoma and normal myometrial tissue was analzed by DNA Chip. METHODS: cDNAs retro-transcribed from equal quantities of mRNA derived from leiomyoma and corresponding normal myometrial tissue were labeled with Cy5 and Cy3 fluorescein as probes. The mixed probe was hybridized with two pieces of 3,066 double dot from a human dermal papilla cell cDNA library and scanned with a laser scanner. The acquired image was analyzed by ImaGene 3.0 software. Validation of gene expression was performed by reverse transcription-Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 5 leiomyomas and corresponding normal myometrial tissues. RESULTS: Among many differentially expressed genes, genes with expression levels more than 3 times were found by comparing leiomyoma with corresponding normal myometrial tissue. One gene with expression levels lesser than 3 times in leiomyoma tissue compared to normal myometrial tissue was also detected. Although alterations of several genes, such as osteoblast specific factor 2, PAI-1 mRNA-binding protein, hydroxyacyl-Coenzyme A dehydrogenase/3-ketoacyl-Coenzyme A thiolase/enoyl-Coenzyme A hydratase alpha subunit (HADHA), p311, DEAD/H (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp/His) box polypeptide 1 (DDX1), Hexokinase 1, 2 were identified in a significant high fraction of uterine leiomyoma compared to normal myometrial tissue. Cyr61 gene was shown to be markedly down-regulated in leiomyoma compared with the matched uterine myometrial control. I validated differential expression of genes by RT-PCR and demonstrated overexpression of OSF-2, HADHA, p311, DDX1, Hexokinase 1, 2. CONCLUSION: DNA chip techniques are effective in screening differential gene expression between leiomyoma tissue and normal myometrial tissue. These genes may be related to the genesis and development of uterine leiomyoma. Analysis of the human leiomyoma gene expression profile by DNA chip may be helpful gene diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this disease.
Diagnosis ; DNA* ; DNA, Complementary ; Fluorescein ; Gene Expression* ; Gene Library ; Hexokinase ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Mass Screening ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis* ; Osteoblasts ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; RNA, Messenger ; Transcriptome

OBJECTIVES: Morphological studies on presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, have been performed in several different strains of mice that demonstrate hearing loss with auditory pathology. The C57BL/6 (C57) mouse is a known model of early onset presbycusis, while the CBA mouse is characterized by relatively late onset hearing loss. We performed this study to further understand how early onset hearing loss is related with the aging process of the cochlea. METHODS: We compared C57 cochlear pathology and its accompanying apoptotic processes to those in CBA mice. Hearing thresholds and outer hair cell functions have been evaluated by auditory brainstem response (ABR) recordings and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE). RESULTS: ABR recordings and DPOAE studies demonstrated high frequency hearing loss in C57 mice at P3mo of age. Cochlear morphologic studies of P1mo C57 and CBA mice did not show differences in the organ of Corti, spiral ganglion, or stria vascularis. However, from P3mo and onwards, a predominant early outer hair cell degeneration at the basal turn of the cochlea in C57 mice without definitive degeneration of spiral ganglion cells and stria vascularis/spiral ligament, compared with CBA mice, was observed. Additionally, apoptotic processes in the C57 mice also demonstrated an earlier progression. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the C57 mouse could be an excellent animal model for early onset 'sensory' presbycusis in their young age until P6mo. Further studies to investigate the intrinsic or extrinsic etiologic factors that lead to the early degeneration of organ of Corti, especially in the high frequency region, in C57 mice may provide a possible pathological mechanism of early onset hearing loss.
Aging ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cochlea ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Hair ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Ligaments ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred CBA ; Models, Animal ; Organ of Corti ; Presbycusis ; Spiral Ganglion ; Stria Vascularis

OBJECTIVE: We examined changes in general health status, the prevalence of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and the existence of pre-trauma contributing factors in an agricultural population following a massive flood. METHODS: Eighty-three of 160 residents of Garisan-ni, Inje-gun, Gangwon-do, were assessed using the Korean version of the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36-K) between April and June 2006, just prior to a massive flood. Among those initially assessed, 58 residents were available for follow-up 18 months after the flood. Participants completed the SF-36-K, Beck Depression Index (BDI), Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-PTSD, and the Korean version of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) to detect depression and PTSD. Trauma experiences were also assessed. Factors related to changes in health status were then analyzed. RESULTS: SF-36-K total scale scores decreased significantly, suggesting a significant reduction in health-related quality of life. The largest reductions were noted in physical and social functioning. Fifty-three percent of the subjects were at least mildly depressed, and 17% had severe depression. In addition, 22% had PTSD on both the IES-R and MMPI-PTSD. Factors that contributed to the deterioration of health status following the flood were the number of disaster events and existence of depression (as assessed by the BDI). CONCLUSION: The flood was found to lead to deterioration of health status and to provoke depression and PTSD among the agricultural population in the mountainous region. We suggest that the number of disaster event experiences and existence of depression contriuted to changes in health status after the flood.
Depression ; Disasters* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gangwon-do ; Health Surveys ; MMPI ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies* ; Quality of Life ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate whether pediatric emergency practice has improved since the introduction of pediatric specialist care (PSC). Methods: Retrospective observational study was conducted using the data retrieved from the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary university hospital in Cheongju, Korea. Patients younger than 19 years who visited the ED from January 2019 through December 2023 were enrolled in this study. Hospitalization (overall and intensive care unit [ICU]), in-hospital mortality, and return visit within 24 hours were compared between the periods before (January 2019-January 2021) and after (June 2021-December 2023) the introduction of PSC. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated for the outcomes using multivariable logistic regression. Results: During the study period, a total of 36,162 patients visited the ED. The visits increased from 12,196 before to 22,387 after the introduction of PSC (increase by 83.6%). Annual numbers of the visits have increased since 2020 and reached 10,942 in 2023. After the introduction of PSC, decreases were noted in the hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.62-0.72) and return visit within 24 hours (0.73; 0.61-0.88). Hospitalization to the ICU increased (2.90; 2.29-3.69), while there was no significant difference in the in-hospital mortality (1.31; 0.77-2.25). Conclusion After the introduction of PSC, overall hospitalization and return visit decreased, while hospitalization to the ICU increased without a difference in the in-hospital mortality. Multidisciplinary efforts are needed to continue providing the pediatric specialist-centered emergency practice.

PURPOSE: To present preliminary results of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) using the simultaneous modulated accelerated radiation therapy (SMART) boost technique in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients who underwent IMRT for non-metastatic NPC at the Asan Medical Center between September 2001 and December 2003 were prospectively evaluated. IMRT was delivered using the "step and shoot" SMART technique at prescribed doses of 72 Gy (2.4 Gy/day) to the gross tumor volume (GTV), 60 Gy (2 Gy/day) to the clinical target volume (CTV) and metastatic nodal station, and 46 Gy (2 Gy/day) to the clinically negative neck region. Eighteen patients also received concurrent chemotherapy using cisplatin once per week. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 27 months. Nineteen patients completed the treatment without interruption; the remaining patient interrupted treatment for 2 weeks owing to severe pharyngitis and malnutrition. Five patients (25%) had RTOG grade 3 mucositis, whereas nine (45%) had grade 3 pharyngitis. Seven patients (35%) lost more than 10% of their pretreatment weight, whereas 11 (55%) required intravenous fluids and/or tube feeding. There was no grade 3 or 4 chronic xerostomia. All patients showed complete response. Two patients had distant metastases and loco-regional recurrence, respectively. CONCLUSION: IMRT using the SMART boost technique allows parotid sparing, as shown clinically and by dosimetry, and may also be more effective biologically. A larger population of patients and a longer follow-up period are needed to evaluate ultimate tumor control and late toxicity.
Chemoradiotherapy ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Cisplatin ; Drug Therapy ; Enteral Nutrition ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Malnutrition ; Mucositis ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pharyngitis ; Prospective Studies ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; Recurrence ; Tumor Burden ; Xerostomia

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recently, treatment using an endoscopic device is actively being developed. Techniques for incision and bleeding control have been developed, but endoscopic suturing remains to be perfected. Using an endoscopic suturing technique, a variety of diseases could be managed noninvasively. We have attempted to use a new endoscopic suturing device which enables a continuous suture using a flexible upper endoscope. METHODS: A suturing device was designed where a semicircular needle could sew through tissue by rotation making a continuous suture possible. RESULTS: We successfully sutured the stomach tissue of a dog using an optimized suturing device model. CONCLUSIONS: The initial model was found to have some problems. However, we hope to develop a continuous suturing device for flexible upper endoscope procedures in Korea.
Animals ; Dogs ; Endoscopes ; Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal* ; Endoscopy ; Hemorrhage ; Hope ; Korea ; Needles ; Stomach ; Sutures*