No abstract available.
Syringomyelia*

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to compare the magnitude and phase between the RR interval and QT interval variability in the frequency domain. METHODS: Twenty four, 12-13 year old healthy males were randomly selected. At resting state and for 5 minutes, ECGs were obtained, and they were digitized to 1000Hz. After measurement of RR interval, QT interval variability was measured using template matching strategy. After normalization of the RR and QT interval time series, power spectral and cross spectral analysis were performed. From each of the time series, low- (0.04-0.15 hertz) and high- (0.15-0.4 hertz) frequency power were measured. From the phase spectrum, the phases and time lags between the two time series at each of the two frequency range were calculated. RESULTS: The average of RR interval and QT interval was 616.0+/-71.0, 364.0+/-47.0 msec, respectively. Their normalized low- and high- frequency power was 4.4+/-7.9 NU(normalized unit), 0.1+/-0.1 NU(p<0.005), and 11.0+/-30.0 NU, 0.3+/-0.3(NU, p<0.005), respectively. The phase differences and resulting time lags between the two interval were -0.5+/-0.4 pi radian(-0.9 seconds) and -0.2+/-0.3 pi radian(-0.4 seconds) in the low- and high-frequency range, respectively. CONCLUSION: During resting state, when compared to RR interval, QT interval oscillates in significantly lower amplitude in both low- and high- frequency ranges. However, the oscillations precede those of the RR interval 0.9 seconds and 0.4 seconds, respectively.
Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Male

PURPOSE: To compare the inhibitory effects of various tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) on contractile response of the rat vas deferens to electrical stimulation of hypogastric nerve. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of forty Spraque Dawley rats (weight 300-350gm) were divided into 8 groups (n=5 in each): doxepine, amitriptyline, trimipramine, desipramine, imipramine, clomipramine, protriptyline, and prazosin treated groups. Before (baseline pressure) and 20 minutes after intravenous injection of each agent (0.1-, 1-, 10-, and 20-fold of therapeutic doses for human in each agent), the hypogastric nerves, iden tified under operative microscope, were electrically stimulated with rectangular pulses of 0.5 mseconds duration, 10 Hz, and 10 V for 10 seconds. Dose of drug administered was gradually increased in order of 0.1- to 20-fold dose. RESULTS: All drugs tested in this study caused dose-dependent inhibition of the rat intravasal pressure induced by the electrical stimulation of hypogastric nerve. Inhibitory potency of each drug was doxepine (88.5% and 96.5% at 10- and 20-fold dose)> OR = amitriptyline (76.8% and 91.8%)>clomipramine (66.7% and 74.4%)> OR =imipramine (48.2% and 67.0%)=prazosin (45.6% and 63.5%)=trimipramine (52.7% and 65.4%)> OR =desi pramine (45.3% and 49.0%)> protriptyline (18.9% and 19.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Inhibitory effects of TCAs on contractile response of the rat vas deferens to electrical stimulation of hypogastric nerve would increase in proportion to their potency of alpha1-adrenoceptor blocking actions.
Amitriptyline ; Animals ; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic* ; Clomipramine ; Desipramine ; Doxepin ; Electric Stimulation* ; Humans ; Imipramine ; Injections, Intravenous ; Prazosin ; Protriptyline ; Rats* ; Trimipramine ; Vas Deferens*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to perform a comparative analysis of the efficacy and safety of conventional transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P), transurethral resection in saline (TURIS), and TURIS-plasma vaporization (TURIS-V) when performed by a single surgeon for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical data of 73 consecutive men who underwent conventional TUR-P (39), TURIS (19), or TURIS-V (15) for BPH were retrospectively analyzed. All procedures were carried out by a single surgeon between October 2007 and April 2010. The patients were assessed preoperatively and perioperatively and were followed at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Patient baseline characteristics, perioperative data, and postoperative outcomes were compared, and major complications were recorded. RESULTS: In all groups, significant improvements in subjective and objective voiding parameters were achieved and were sustained throughout follow-up. TURIS-V had the shortest operation time compared with conventional TUR-P and TURIS (p=0.211). TURIS-V significantly decreased procedural irrigation fluid volume, postoperative irrigation duration, catheter duration, and hospital stay compared with conventional TUR-P and TURIS. There were no significant differences between the groups in hemoglobin levels or serum sodium levels before and after the operations. There were three transfusions and four clot retentions in the TUR-P group, and one transfusion and one clot retention in the TURIS group. The TURIS-V group had no complications. CONCLUSIONS: TURIS and TURIS-V were effective for the surgical treatment of BPH in addition to conventional TUR-P. TURIS-V was not inferior to conventional TUR-P or TURIS in terms of safety.
Catheters ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Pilot Projects ; Prostate ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Retention (Psychology) ; Retrospective Studies ; Sodium ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Urologic Surgical Procedures ; Volatilization

OBJECTIVE: Angiogenesis, the formation of blood vessels by sprouting from pre-existing ones, is essential for the growth of solid tumors beyond 2-3mm in diameter and for tumor metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), is known as vascular permeability factor(VPF) and mediates vascularization and tumor-induced angiogenesis. This study examined the potential of growth, invasion, and metastasis of uterine cervical carcinomas associated with neovascularization. METHODS: From January 1996 to December 1999, at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyung-Hee University Hospital, 37 uterine cervical carcinomas and 7 normal cervical tissues were obtained and the samples were immediately frozen and stored at -70 degrees C. Immunohistochemical staining for VEGF was carried out to study VEGF localization, and the levels of VEGF subtype mRNAs were determined by quantitative RT-PCR in specimens. The relation between VEGF subtypes expression of cervical cancers was analysed. RESULTS: The positive staining for VEGF is seen dominantly in the cytoplasm of the cancer cells, and faintly in interstitial cells. The intensity of staining was stronger in squamous carcinomas than in adenocrcinomas, but there was no significant difference (p>0.05). Quantitative RT-PCR analysis demonstrated significantly increased VEGF121/VEGF165 mRNA expression levels (>0.56 / >0.72) in 21 (56.8%) and 15 (40.5%) of 37 cervical carcinomas comparing to control groups (mean: 0.28 / 0.36). There was no obvious relationship between VEGF121/VEGF165 mRNA expression levels and the clinical parameters examined including age, pathology, differentiation, tumor size, lymphovascular space invasion, LN involvement and invasion depth except clinical stage (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The overexpression of VEGF mRNA may be an important contributing factor in cervical carcinomas. There is no significant differenece of VEGF mRNAs levels according to clinical parameters, so it seems that the expression of VEGF is involved in the promotion of angiogenesis on cervical cancer and plays an important role in early invasion.
Blood Vessels ; Capillary Permeability ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cytoplasm ; Gynecology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Obstetrics ; Pathology ; RNA, Messenger* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

Mixed mullerian tumors are uncommon tumor and highly malignant containing epithelial and mesenchymal component. Most of these tumors arise spontaneously in the sixth to eight decades of life, but a certain proportion are known to occur in women who have received pelvic irradiation from five to 30 years before for benign or malignant disease. This apparent association has led to the belief that pelvic irradiation somewhat increase the neoplastic potential of the uterine corpus, although the precise role of irradiation in the genesis of uterine neoplasia remain uncertain. We experienced one case of malignant mixed mullerian tumor of uterus developed after pelvic irradiation. So we report the case with a brief review of literature.
Female ; Humans ; Uterus*

PURPOSE: Lower self-esteem, if present in enuretic children, might be an indicator of present and possible later psychological dysfunction. We tried to study the change of self-esteem before and after the treatment in children with nocturnal enuresis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 32 enuretic children between september, 1998 and april, 2000. Mean age was 7.3 years old (range 4-12). We investigated the effect of self-esteem after 3 months treatment by Harter's self conception profile for children (SPPC) by total score and 6 subscales scores (scholastic competence, social acceptance, athletic competence, physical appearance, behavioral conduct and global self-worth). The patients were divided in two groups: the response group defined as greater than 50% reduction of wet night and the non response group defined as less than 50% reduction of wet night. A paired t-test was used for the improvement of Harter's SPPC at total score and subscales after treatment and student t-test was used for the comparison of the improvement of SPPC between groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the overall Harter's SPPC did not show statistically significant improvement. Among the 32 enuretic children, 22 children (69%) were in response group and 10 children (31%) were in non-response group. We could not find any statistically significant self-esteem change in Harter's SPPC in responders and also even in non-responders. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggested that Harter's SPPC did not show significant improvement after treatment of enuresis.
Child* ; Deamino Arginine Vasopressin ; Enuresis* ; Humans ; Mental Competency ; Nocturnal Enuresis ; Self Concept ; Social Distance ; Sports

This study compared levels of whole grain consumption-related predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling factors according to socio-demographic variables, and examined how these factors are associated with whole grain consumption frequency among Korean adults. A survey questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of adult males and females aged 20~59 years (n=300). The questionnaire included questions on predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling factors in relation to whole grain consumption as well as a brief whole grain food frequency questionnaire. Female subjects showed a significantly higher level of negative beliefs on health.nutrition.taste.texture while showing a significantly lower level of social support compared to that of males. The age group of 40~59 years showed a significantly higher social support level than the age group of 20~39 years. Results from multivariate regression analyses showed that different combinations of predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling variables were significant in predicting whole grain consumption frequency according to sex and age. The study findings can be used for developing specific target-oriented nutrition intervention programs for promotion of whole grain intake among Korean adults.
Adult* ; Causality* ; Edible Grain* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Female sexual dysfunction is now of great concern and have a relatively high prevalence. It is related with psychosocial disorder, organic disease and iatrogenic cause. But until recently, basic science and clinical study on it is limited and medical therapy stays in early experimental steps except conventional hormone replacement therapy. Hormonal based female sexual dysfunction can be caused by dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, surgical or medical castration, menopause and premature ovarian failure. We report two cases of female sexual dysfunction derived from hormonal deficiency. One case is about premature menopause induced and the other is about rare form of adult onset idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.
Adult ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Castration ; Estrogens* ; Female* ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Menopause ; Menopause, Premature ; Prevalence ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency ; Testosterone*

PURPOSE: To compare prospectively and randomly tension-free vaginal tape(TVT) with transobturator vaginal tape inside-out(TVT-O) for the surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence(SUI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty women with SUI were alternately assigned to either the TVT group(n=60) or TVT-O group(n=60). The preoperative evaluation included urodynamic study and a Korean version of the incontinence quality of life questionnaire(I-QoL). At 1-year after operation, surgical outcome, patient I-QoL parameters, long-term complications and uroflowmetry were evaluated in 2 groups. RESULTS: Preoperative patient characteristics including I-QoL and urodynamic study were comparable in the two groups. The rates of cure(86.8% for TVT vs. 86.8% for TVT-O), improvement(6.6% for TVT vs. 8.2% for TVT-O), and failure (6.6% for TVT vs. 5.0% for TVT-O) were similar for the two groups. The I-QoL parameters one year after surgery were improved significantly in both groups(p<0.001) and there was no difference between the two groups(p>0.05). The rates of the patient satisfaction with the procedure were 93.4% in the TVT group versus 95.0% in the TVT-O group(p>0.05). Mean operation time(11.5+/-1.4 min versus 15.2+/-1.8 min, p<0.05) was significantly shorter in the TVT-O than TVT. There were no long-term complications, such as vaginal erosion and prolonged voiding difficulty, in either group. CONCLUSION: TVT-O appears to be equally effective as TVT for the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women at a 1-year follow-up.
Female* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Patient Satisfaction ; Prospective Studies* ; Quality of Life ; Suburethral Slings* ; Urinary Incontinence* ; Urinary Incontinence, Stress ; Urodynamics