1. The most common age distribution in urethral stricture was 3rd to 4th decade and the most common cause was trauma. 2. The most common site of stricture was at bulbomembraneous urethra in 8O%. 3. The average duration of indwelling the catheter was 8 days. 4. Post operative complications were urethral bleeding, acute epidymitis, urethral diverticulum, false urethral tract and fracture of cold knife. 5. The overall success rate was 77.8% and complication rate was 13.3% These results means that the endoscopic internal urethrotomy was a valuable method for the treatment of stricture before performing the urethroplasty.
Age Distribution ; Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diverticulum ; Hemorrhage ; Urethra ; Urethral Stricture*

The effects of the topically applied antibiotics and Aprotinin were evaluated in the experimentally induced pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis in rabbits. 40 albino rabbits were used for this study and were divided into 8 groups according to the treatment protocols as follows: Aprotinin 40u/ml, 1,OOOu/ml, 1O,000u/ml, antibiotics (Ciprofloxacin and Tobramycin), and antibiotics and Aprotinin combined-treated group. The drugs were instilled in the rabbits, cornea 6 times per day for 2 weeks. The clinical evaluation was performed using a hand-held slit lamp every day. For the histopathologic examination, we enucleated every samples at different time intervals and prepared specimens for light microscope. The results were Aprotinin-treated group showed progression of ulcer infiltrates regardless of its concentrations. There was a statistically significant difference between the antibiotics-treated group and the control group (p<0.05). However, the combination of Aprotinin and antibiotics were not able to gain statistical significance when compare with antibiotics alone (p>0.05). There was no clinical and histopathological differences in the rabbit cornea between ciprofloxacin and tobramycin treated group (p>0.05).
Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Aprotinin* ; Ciprofloxacin ; Clinical Protocols ; Cornea ; Keratitis ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Pseudomonas* ; Rabbits ; Tobramycin ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: Conventional echocardiography provides fundamental information about mitral valve morphology and function but is often subjective and has a relatively low specificity in evaluating valve calcific deposit, which is critical information for the preoperative decision. We hypothesized that mitral valvular calcification could be detected in standard two-dimensional echocardiograms of mitral valve in vivo by evaluating regional gray level(echo amplitude) using computerized image analysis so that we could overcome the subjectivity and low specificity of conventional echocardiography. METHODS: We tested this hypothesis by performing standard 2.5MHz two-dimensional echoes on mitral valve and myocardium in 30 patients with mitral stenosis, scheduled to undergo mitral valve replacement. We compared gray level of each region of interest in mitral valve and myocardium in stop-frame images with the degree of calcifications identified by pathologic and radiographic examinations. RESULTS: Ratio of mean gray level of mitral valve to mean gray level of myocardium was the most reliable value in evaluating degree of calcification. Quantitatively, region of calcification displayed the ratio of significantly higher value than that of no calcification. In case of anterior mitral valve, the ratio of the evident calcified region was greater than 3.11, that of the region without calcification was less than 2.42 and that of microcalcification was betwwn 2.42 and 3.11. For posterior mitral valve, the ratio of the evident calcified region was greater than 3.50, that of the region without calcification was less than 2.19 and that of microcalcification was between 2.19 and 3.50. The sensitivity and specificity of this method for assessment of degree of calcification was 75% and 100% for anterior mitral valve and 9% and 87.5% for posterior mitral valve. CONCLUSION: Mitral valvular calcification could be detected quantitatively in standard two dimensional echocardiograms of mitral valve in vivo by evaluating regional gray level(echo amplitude) using computerized image analysis.
Echocardiography ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Stenosis* ; Myocardium ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell*

We performed 16 dacryocystorhinostomies with silicone tube for the chronic dacryocystitis with partial obstruction of the canaliculus. About 10 weeks postoperatively, the silicone tube was removed in 6 cases which had some epiphora, and the tube was retained in the canlaiculus in asymtomatic 10 cases. After 6 months follow up period, one case revealed a reobstruction of the common canaliculus but the other fifteen cases showed satisfactory results.
Dacryocystitis ; Dacryocystorhinostomy* ; Drainage* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Silicones*

We performed 16 dacryocystorhinostomies with silicone tube for the chronic dacryocystitis with partial obstruction of the canaliculus. About 10 weeks postoperatively, the silicone tube was removed in 6 cases which had some epiphora, and the tube was retained in the canlaiculus in asymtomatic 10 cases. After 6 months follow up period, one case revealed a reobstruction of the common canaliculus but the other fifteen cases showed satisfactory results.
Dacryocystitis ; Dacryocystorhinostomy* ; Drainage* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Silicones*

No abstract available.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Child* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships between temperament and character dimensions and family environments, and to investigate the influences of those factors on the antisocial personality traits in delinquent adolescents. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 160 male adolescents detained at the public prosecutor's office on the suspicion of crimes. To assess personality dimensions and family environmental factors, the Temperament and Character Inventory(TCI) and the Family Environment Scale(FES) were completed. Antisocial personality traits were assessed by the number of antisocial personality disorder symptoms of the Personality Disorder Questionnaire-Revised. RESULTS: Most of the TCI dimensions except Reward Dependence(RD) were highly correlated with the subscales of FES. Among temperament dimensions, Novelty Seeking(NS) and Persistence(P) were significantly affected by Organization, and Harm Avoidance(HA) was influenced by Expressiveness of FES. Self-Directednss(SD) was best predicted by Organization and Achievement-Orientation. While the Independence had significant effect on Cooperativeness, Expressiveness and Achievement-Orientation best predicted the level of Self-Transcendence(ST). On factor analysis, NS, HA, SD and ST were allocated to the same factors with subscales of FES. The level of antisocial personality trait was best predicted by NS, P and SD scores of TCI, and conflict subscale scores of FES. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that not only the character dimensions but also the temperament dimensions have close relationships with family environmental factors, and that the antisocial personality traits of delinquent adolescents may developed by the interaction between temperament/character dimensions and family environments.
Adolescent* ; Antisocial Personality Disorder* ; Crime ; Humans ; Personality Disorders ; Reward ; Temperament*

BACKGROUND: Overt hypothyroidism is a well-known cause of secondary hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis. However, there have been some dissenting report of abnormalities and in serum lipid concentration in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. We have attempted to analyze serum lipid concentrations to investigate whether they are increased in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and to see if there is a correlation between serum LDL-C and TSH concentrations. METHODS: Serum lipid profiles(total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, HDL-C) of patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (M/F=7/119) compared with age, sex and body mass index matched control subjects(M/F=14/239) from Jan. 1 . 1996. to Dec. 30. 1997. RESULTS: There were no significant differences of serum total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, TG, and HDL concentrations in 126 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and 253 control subjects(178.47+/-35.76mg/dL vs. 173.05+/-35.93mg/dL ; 113.33+/-52.89mg/dL vs 117.64+/-68.70mg/dL ; 112.89+/-33.26mg.dL vs 109.65+/-29.02mg/dL ; 48.60+/-11.34mg/dL vs 46.51+/-11.73mg/dL). There was no correlation between LDL cholesterol and TSH concentrations in subclinical hypothyroidism(r=0.29, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum lipid concentration (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and TG, HDL) was not increased in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. There was no correltion between serum LDL and TSH levels in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.
Atherosclerosis ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Dissent and Disputes ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypothyroidism* ; Lipoproteins* ; Triglycerides