Various laparoscopic nephroureterectomy techniques for urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract have been developed to minimize postoperative discomfort and the necessity for a lengthy convalescence. We performed hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy without hand-assisted device in 3 male patients with urothelial carcinoma of the distal ureter. Average operative time and estimated blood loss were 251 min (range 235 to 280) and 250 mL (range 200 to 300), respectively. Complication did not occur and conversion to open surgery was not necessary in all cases. Postoperative analgesic requirements were moderate and the time to regular diet intake averaged 3 days (range 2 to 4). None of the patients had a positive margin on the final pathologic specimen. At the average follow-up of 8.1 months, no regional recurrence, port-site metastasis, bladder recurrence, or distant metastasis were noted in any patient. We described our initial experience with the described technique, which obviates the need for midprocedural patient repositioning.
Aged ; Humans ; Laparoscopes ; Laparoscopy/*methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrectomy/instrumentation/*methods ; Retroperitoneal Space/pathology/*surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Ureter/pathology/*surgery ; Ureteral Neoplasms/pathology/*surgery

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Humans

PURPOSE: We investigated whether psychological factors could influence on the symptoms of chronic prostatitis based on general population that have not previously been examined or treated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between August and November 2000, we randomly selected 100 male residents in the area of Chung-nam including Daejoen city. The participants completed self- administered questionnaires. Based on our inclusion criteria, 87 participants were included in this study. RESULTS: Scores of Beck Depression Inventory of participants with higher pain and urinary symptoms domain scores were significantly higher than those with lower pain and urinary symptoms domain scores of the National Institutes of Health-chronic prostatitis symptom index (p=0.001 and p=0.028, respectively). However, anxiety did not influence on the symptoms of chronic prostatitis based on the results of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Based on the results of Bem Sex Role Inventory, masculinity score of participants with higher urinary symptoms domain scores were significantly lower than those with lower urinary symptoms domain scores (p=0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that psychological problems may involve in an early stage of chronic prostatitis and have a causative role in chronic prostatitis.
Academies and Institutes ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Gender Identity ; Humans ; Male ; Masculinity ; Prostatitis* ; Psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the cancer detection rate in a Korean population with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels greater than or equal to 20.0ng/mL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 174 men 50 to 79 years old (median 69) included in the study. The median prostate volume of the patients was 44.8mL (range 14.1 to 210.0) and their serum PSA ranged from 20.0 to 9725.0ng/mL (median 44.8). RESULTS: Of 174 men 141 (81.0%) were diagnosed with prostate cancer on initial biopsy. In the total number of patients, the positive predictive value (PPV) was 62.9% for PSA 20 to 29.9, 72.7% for PSA 30 to 39.9 and 100% for PSA 40 to 49.9 ng/mL. In patients with an abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE), the values for these PSA ranges increased to 89.5%, 91.7% and 100%, respectively. The PPV was 81.0% for PSA cutoff of 20, 89.2% for a cutoff of 30, 95.4% for a cutoff of 40, and 94.7% for a cutoff of 50 ng/mL. In conjunction with an abnormal DRE, the values for these PSA cutoffs increased to 95.9%, 98.1%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest the ability to predict the presence of prostate cancer reliably on initial biopsy when PSA threshold is greater than or equal to 50ng/mL. This PSA threshold may be lowered to 40ng/mL in the presence of an abnormal DRE. In Korean men with high PSA, the detection rate of prostate cancer on biopsy appears to be comparable to that for American men.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Cohort Studies ; Digital Rectal Examination ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prostate/pathology ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/*blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms/*diagnosis/metabolism/pathology

BACKGROUND: The age-associated loss of subcutaneous fat with the accumulation of visceral fat consequently leads to several deleterious health outcomes such as dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. A recent research has shown that acute ultraviolet (UV) irradiation can reduce subcutaneous fat. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study is to investigate whether chronic UV radiation can reduce subcutaneous fat, increase visceral fat, and lead to additional metabolic changes. METHODS: We analyzed the abdominal computed tomography images of the 98 subjects attending our health examination center to calculate the amount of subcutaneous fat and visceral fat. Questionnaire surveys were conducted to analyze the degree of daily UV exposure, sunscreen use, and physical activity. Weight, height, blood pressure (BP), liver function test, lipid profiles, and glucose metabolism were also assessed. RESULTS: In the analysis of covariance adjusted for age, sex, and physical activity, the visceral fat amount in the high UV exposure group was significantly higher than that in the low UV exposure group (p=0.043), and the subcutaneous/total fat ratio in the high UV group was significantly lower than that in the low UV group (p=0.048). The high UV group had higher levels of fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, systolic BP, and diastolic BP than the low UV exposure group (p=0.039, 0.012, 0.004, and 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that chronic UV radiation could change body fat distribution and lead to additional changes, including changes in glucose metabolism and BP.
Blood Pressure ; Body Fat Distribution* ; Cross-Sectional Studies* ; Dyslipidemias ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Homeostasis ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Liver Function Tests ; Metabolism* ; Motor Activity ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: We assessed the impact of pelvic lymphadenectomy on the survival of patients who had undergone radical cystectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 107 patients who underwent radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder between January 1991 and December 2000. We preoperatively excluded patients with evidence of pelvic lymphadenopathy and distant metastases from the study. Among 107 patients, 61 patients (Group A) underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy while 46 patients (Group B) did not. The clinicopathological parameters were not significantly different in the two groups. RESULTS: In group A, 12 patients (19.6%) were found to have pelvic node metastases. Five-year overall survival and recurrence-free survival rates were 68% and 75% for Group A, respectively. In group B, 5-year overall survival and recurrence-free survival rates were 36% and 56%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that T stage (p=0.004) and lymphadenectomy (p=0.044) were significant prognostic factors for survival. CONCLUSIONS: The overall survival rates between the two groups were significantly different. Our findings suggested that lymphadenectomy may improve the prognosis of patients who underwent radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Cystectomy* ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision* ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic* ; Humans ; Knee* ; Male

PURPOSE: In order to evaluate the prevalence and influence of weather on chronic prostatitis-like symptoms, young men dwelling in the community were surveyed using the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index. MATERIALS AND MTHODS: Between May and November 2000, a total of 28,841 male residents in the area of Taejeon and Chung-nam visited the Military Manpower Administration. The 16,321 participants (response rate 56.6%) completed a self-administered questionnaire. The data collected was then used to estimate the prevalence of chronic prostatitis-like symptoms. The Korea Meteorological Administration provided information on the weather including the amount of sunlight and rainfall, and the average temperature. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for chronic prostatitis-like symptoms. RESULTS: The prevalence of chronic prostatitis-like symptoms in these subjects was approximately 6%. The participants with chronic prostatitis-like symptoms had higher scores of each domain than the normal population (p<0.001). Univariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the amount of rainfall was not a risk factor for chronic prostatitis-like symptoms. In the multivariate model used, the amount of sunlight and the average temperature were independent predictors of chronic prostatitis-like symptoms (odds ratio, 0.860; p=0.005 and odds ratio, 0.989; p=0.049, respectively) in these subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the prevalence of chronic prostatitis-like symptoms is high even in young men and the amount of sunlight as well as the average temperature may be risk factors for chronic prostatitis-like symptoms.
Daejeon* ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Military Personnel ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence* ; Prostatitis ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Sunlight ; Weather*

PURPOSE: In order to evaluate the prevalence and influence of weather on chronic prostatitis-like symptoms, young men dwelling in the community were surveyed using the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index. MATERIALS AND MTHODS: Between May and November 2000, a total of 28,841 male residents in the area of Taejeon and Chung-nam visited the Military Manpower Administration. The 16,321 participants (response rate 56.6%) completed a self-administered questionnaire. The data collected was then used to estimate the prevalence of chronic prostatitis-like symptoms. The Korea Meteorological Administration provided information on the weather including the amount of sunlight and rainfall, and the average temperature. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for chronic prostatitis-like symptoms. RESULTS: The prevalence of chronic prostatitis-like symptoms in these subjects was approximately 6%. The participants with chronic prostatitis-like symptoms had higher scores of each domain than the normal population (p<0.001). Univariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the amount of rainfall was not a risk factor for chronic prostatitis-like symptoms. In the multivariate model used, the amount of sunlight and the average temperature were independent predictors of chronic prostatitis-like symptoms (odds ratio, 0.860; p=0.005 and odds ratio, 0.989; p=0.049, respectively) in these subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the prevalence of chronic prostatitis-like symptoms is high even in young men and the amount of sunlight as well as the average temperature may be risk factors for chronic prostatitis-like symptoms.
Daejeon* ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Military Personnel ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence* ; Prostatitis ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Sunlight ; Weather*

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