A 2-year-old girl had 2-month history of both secretory otitis media . Nine weeks after the first visit, physical examination revealed a whitish mass behind the intact right tympanic membrane. A CT study showed absence of the right foramen spinosum. The right ICA had an aberrant course running laterally in the middle ear cavity with ossesous canal. The soft tissue density in the normal location of the tympanic segment of facial nerve was markedly enlarged. A diagnosis of aberrant ICA and persistent stapedial artery was made. Vascular mass in the middle ear space are very uncommon. They continue to present a diagnostic problem, as the clinical symptoms and signs are often nonspecific and require radiological investigation to distinguish between glomus tumors, other vascular tumors, a dehiscent jugular bulb and an aberrant internal carotid artery. In approximately one per cent of the population, a dehiscent ICA canal is present and can result in the passing of an aberrant ICA through the middle ear space. The persistent stapedial artery is a rare congenital vascular anomaly that may present as a pulsatile middle ear mass or that may appear as an incidental finding. It is important for the otologist to be aware of this anomaly, as a misdiagnosis can have catastrophic consequences.
Arteries* ; Carotid Artery, Internal* ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Ear, Middle ; Facial Nerve ; Female ; Glomus Tumor ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Otitis Media with Effusion ; Physical Examination ; Running ; Tympanic Membrane

No abstract available.
Decompression* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Spine* ; Titanium*

We evaluated the long-term results of feminizing genital reconstruction in patients with genital ambiguity with high vaginal confluence. The medical records of 10 consecutive patients with ambiguous genitalia and high vaginal confluence who underwent feminizing genital reconstruction from 1996 to 2007 were reviewed. Seven patients had congenital adrenal hyperplasia, one had mixed gonadal dysgenesis, one had partial androgen insensitivity, and one had 5-alpha reductase deficiency syndrome. Median age at operation was 21 months (range, 2-47 months). Median follow up was 7.7 yr. Of the six patients who underwent feminizing genital reconstruction with the Gonzalez method, three had good results. Of the other three patients, one had a urethrovaginal fistula and underwent fistula repair 9 yr after, one had distal vaginal stenosis and underwent revision vaginoplasty 9 yr after, and one had a urethrovaginal fistula and urethral stricture. The patient with urogenital mobilization had persistent urogenital sinus. Feminizing genitoplasty using the Gonzalez method showed good long-term results in patients with ambiguous genitalia and Congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The procedure is less invasive than other approaches and results in excellent cosmetic outcomes; and complications can be corrected by relatively simple procedures.
Child, Preschool ; Disorders of Sex Development/*surgery ; Female ; Feminization/*surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Penis/abnormalities ; *Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Urethral Stricture/surgery ; Urogenital System/surgery ; Vagina/*surgery

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence and type distribution of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in genital warts of Korean men, and for the first time, to describe the risk factors associated with high-risk HPV infection in male genital warts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a single private clinic, 150 consecutive male patients with histopathologic-confirmed genital warts who underwent HPV genotyping by use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were included in this study. We detected HPV DNA in male genital warts and evaluated HPV type distribution, especially high-risk HPV types, by use of PCR. The associations between HPV prevalence and various characteristics, such as age, circumcision status, type of genital warts diagnosis (new vs. recurrent), number of lesions, site of lesions, and gross morphology, were assessed by use of unconditional multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: High-risk HPV types were detected in 31 cases (23.5%), and of these, 27 cases (20.5%) contained both high-risk and low-risk HPV types. The most frequently detected high-risk HPV types were HPV16 (6.8%), HPV33 (4.5%), HPV18 (2.3%), and HPV68 (2.3%). In particular, the prevalence of infection with HPV16 and/or HPV18 was 8.3% (11 of 132). In the multivariate analysis, lesions located at sites including the base of the penis or the pubic area, papular or mixed genital warts, and lack of circumcision significantly increased the association with high-risk HPV infection in male genital warts. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of high-risk HPV infection was substantial in male genital warts. The site and morphology of lesions and circumcision status were significantly associated with the prevalence of high-risk HPV infection.
Circumcision, Male ; Condylomata Acuminata* ; Diagnosis ; DNA ; Female ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Humans* ; Logistic Models ; Male* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Papillomavirus Infections* ; Penis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: The effect of spinal adrenergic and cholinergic receptors on the anti-nociceptive effect of intrathecal ginsenosides was determined in a rat postoperative pain model. METHODS: Catheters were placed into the intrathecal space of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Postoperative pain was evoked by an incision to the plantar surface of a hind paw. Withdrawal thresholds was used as a nociceptive parameter and was measured with a von Frey filament. After observing the effect of intrathecal ginsenosides, an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist (prazosin), an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist (yohimbine), a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist (atropine), and a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist (mecamylamine) were given 10 min before administration of the ginsenosides to analyze the contribution of spinal adrenergic and cholinergic receptors on the antinociceptive effect of ginsenosides. RESULTS: Paw incision decreased withdrawal threshold in incised site of paw, but no change of withdrawal threshold was not seen in non-incised site. The intrathecal ginsenosides increased withdrawal threshold of the incised paw in a dose-dependent manner. Pre-treatment with both prazosin and intrathecal yohimbine antagonized the anti-nociceptive effect of the ginsenosides. However, pre-treatments with atropine or mecamylamine had any effect on the antinociceptive activity of ginsenosides. CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecal ginsenosides are effective in attenuation of postoperative pain induced in the rat model. Anti-nociceptive action of ginsenosides is partially mediated by spinal adrenergic receptors, but does not appear to be related to spinal cholinergic receptors.
Animals ; Atropine ; Catheters ; Ginsenosides ; Humans ; Male ; Mecamylamine ; Pain, Postoperative ; Prazosin ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Adrenergic ; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 ; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 ; Receptors, Cholinergic ; Receptors, Muscarinic ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; Spinal Cord ; Yohimbine

PURPOSE: The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level decreases after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). However, changes in the PSA level after potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser vaporization of the prostate are not well known. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of KTP laser vaporization of the prostate on PSA levels in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum PSA levels were checked before and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure in patients who underwent KTP laser vaporization between October 2004 and August 2008. Patients with prostate cancer, a history of urinary retention, or prostatitis during the follow-up period were excluded. The results for 278 patients were studied. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 69.0+/-6.7 years (range, 50-91 years) and the mean preoperative PSA level was 2.72+/-2.93 ng/ml. The PSA level tended to be increased at 1 month after the operation (3.18+/-3.23 ng/ml, p=0.032) but decreased within 3 months and became stabilized after 6 months at 1.79+/-1.82 ng/ml (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PSA levels may increase after KTP laser vaporization for a certain period of time, but eventually decrease and become stabilized after 6 months. Therefore, it may be appropriate to wait up to 3 months if the PSA level rises after the procedure, and further investigation should be considered if the PSA level still remains high after 6 months.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Lasers, Solid-State ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Prostatitis ; Urinary Retention ; Volatilization

PURPOSE: We evaluated the safety and feasibility of transperitoneal laparoscopic upper pole heminephrectomy (TLUHN) in pediatric patients by comparing an age-matched cohort undergoing open upper pole heminephrectomy (OUHN) by a single surgeon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 10 OUHNs were performed between 1995 and 2003 and 10 TLUHNs between 2003 and 2008. The 10 patients in each group were matched by age (p=0.94), gender (p=1.0), and body weight (p=0.91). RESULTS: There was no open conversion in the TLUHN group. The median operative time in the TLUHN and OUHN groups was 174 minutes (range, 98-205) and 190 minutes (range, 120-258), respectively (p=0.19). In the TLUHN and OUHN groups, the median blood loss was 25 ml (range, 20-30) and 35 ml (range, 20-100) (p=0.74), the median analgesic requirement was 0 hours (range, 0-42) and 0 hours (range, 0-87) (p=0.16), and the median hospital stay was 5.5 days (range, 3-7) and 7 days (range, 3-19) (p=0.01), respectively. There were no intraoperative complications in either group. Postoperative atelectasis occurred in two and five patients in the TLUHN and OUHN groups, respectively. Similar results were found in the subanalysis of patients younger than 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: TLUHN is safe and feasible even in small children and infants. Furthermore, decreased hospital stay is the main advantage of the laparoscopic approach compared with open surgery.
Body Weight ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Infant ; Intraoperative Complications ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Nephrectomy ; Nitro Compounds ; Operative Time ; Pediatrics ; Pulmonary Atelectasis

We report transradial access (TRA) for emergency carotid artery stenting (CAS) as a useful alternative when the femoral artery cannot be accessed. A 63-year-old man arrived at our emergency room 30 minutes after left hemiplegia and loss of consciousness. Brain computed tomography (CT) anigograpy showed occlusion of the right interntal carotid artery (ICA) and CT perfusion revealed delayed time-to-peak in the territory of the middle cerebral artery. For, endovascular treatment, trans-femoral access (TFA) was attempted but failed due to occlusion of the abdominal aorta. So, we changed access route via radial artery and confirmed proximal ICA dissection. CAS was attempted via TRA and it was successfully performed. Final angiography showed recanalization of ICA and patient was clinically improved.
Angiography ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Brain ; Carotid Arteries* ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Femoral Artery ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Perfusion ; Radial Artery ; Stents* ; Stroke ; Unconsciousness

Amiloride and benzamil showed antinocicepitve effects in several pain models through the inhibition of acid sensing ion channels (ASICs). However, their role in neuropathic pain has not been investigated. In this study, we investigated the effect of the intrathecal amiloride and benzamil in neuropathic pain model, and also examined the role of ASICs on modulation of neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain was induced by L4-5 spinal nerve ligation in male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 100-120 g, and intrathecal catheterization was performed for drug administration. The effects of amiloride and benzamil were measured by the paw-withdrawal threshold to a mechanical stimulus using the up and down method. The expression of ASICs in the spinal cord dorsal horn was also analyzed by RT-PCR. Intrathecal amiloride and benzamil significantly increased the paw withdrawal threshold in spinal nerve-ligated rats (87%+/-12% and 76%+/-14%, P=0.007 and 0.012 vs vehicle, respectively). Spinal nerve ligation increased the expression of ASIC3 in the spinal cord dorsal horn (P=0.01), and this increase was inhibited by both amiloride and benzamil (P<0.001 in both). In conclusion, intrathecal amiloride and benzamil display antinociceptive effects in the rat spinal nerve ligation model suggesting they may present an alternative pharmacological tool in the management of neuropathic pain at the spinal level.
Acid Sensing Ion Channels/genetics/metabolism ; Amiloride/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Analgesics/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Neuralgia/*drug therapy ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spinal Cord/metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects

PURPOSE: Rabies viruses (RABV) circulating worldwide in various carnivores occasionally cause fatal encephalitis in swine. In this study, the safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant rabies virus, the ERAGS strain constructed with a reverse genetics system, was evaluated in domestic pigs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Growing pigs were administered 1 mL (108.0 FAID50/mL) of the ERAGS strain via intramuscular (IM) or oral routes and were observed for 4 weeks' post-inoculation. Three sows were also inoculated with 1 mL of the ERAGS strain via the IM route. The safety and immunogenicity in swine were evaluated using daily observation and a virus-neutralizing assay (VNA). Fluorescent antibody tests (FAT) for the RABV antigen and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays for the detection of the nucleocapsid (N) gene of RABV were conducted with brain tissues from the sows after necropsy. RESULTS: The growing pigs and sows administered the ERAGS strain did not exhibit any clinical sign of rabies during the test period test and did develop VNA titers. The growing pigs inoculated with the ERAGS strain via the IM route showed higher VNA titers than did those receiving oral administration. FAT and RT-PCR assays were unable to detect RABV in several tissues, including brain samples from the sows. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the ERAGS strain was safe in growing pigs and sows and induced moderate VNA titers in pigs.
Administration, Oral ; Brain ; Encephalitis ; Nucleocapsid ; Rabies virus* ; Rabies* ; Reverse Genetics ; Sus scrofa ; Swine* ; Vaccines