No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Neurofibromatoses* ; Scoliosis*

PURPOSE: The incidence of overactive bladder (OAB) and the efficacy of alpha blocker and tolterodine combination therapy were examined in patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 2001 and December 2001, 144 BPH patients were subdivided into those with BPH, or BPH with OAB, based on urodynamic studies. All patients were treated with alpha blockers for 3 months. Patients with no symptomatic improvement were treated with alpha blockers and tolterodine for 2 months. An increase in the International prostate symptom scores (IPSS) of more than 3 points after medication was considered an improvement, but if not, as a failure. RESULTS: Of the 144 patients, 76 (53%) had BPH and 68 (47%) had BPH with OAB. The patients with BPH and OAB were older (p<0.05), but no differences were observed in the serum creatinine, IPSS, prostate volume, maximum flow rate or post-void residual urine (PVR) between the 2 groups. After 3 months treatment with alpha blockers, 79% (60/76) of the BPH and 35% (24/68) of the BPH with OAB patients had improved (p<0.05). Of the patients showing no improvement, 38% (6/16) with BPH and 73% (32/44) with BPH and OAB showed improvement after the addition of tolterodine. CONCLUSIONS: The combination therapy was more effective than alpha blockers alone in the treatment of patients with coexisting BPH and OAB. We recommend identifying these patients with an initial urodynamic study, which allows for the appropriate management and identification of those patients that may benefit from a more invasive treatment.
Creatinine ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive* ; Urodynamics ; Tolterodine Tartrate

An epidermal cyst, presenting as an intrascrotal tumor, with no relation to the testicles or cord structures, is a rare benign tumor. Their etiology is unknown, but the most widely accepted theory on the histogenesis of testicular epidermal cysts is that they are the end result of a monolayer teratoma arising from germ cells; however, an extratesticular epidermoid cyst is believed to be an abnormal closure of the median raphe and urethral groove. An extratesticular epidermal cyst is normally subcutaneous, and can be localized anywhere along the median raphe, from the distal penis to the anus. To our knowledge, there has been no case reported in the Korean literature. A case of an intrascrotal epidermal cyst is reported in a 44-year-old man.
Adult ; Anal Canal ; Epidermal Cyst* ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; Scrotum ; Teratoma ; Testis

Herein, a new left renal vein stenting procedure (expandable metallic stent placement), which provided relief for an 18-year-old man incapacitated by an intermittent gross hematuria, is reported. The placement of an expandable metallic stent is a minimally invasive therapy, and a simpler and more physiological therapy than previous approaches to Nutcracker syndrome.
Adolescent ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Renal Veins ; Stents*

Supernumerary kidney is one of the very rare anomalies of the urinary tract. Only about 75 cases have been reported since it was first described in 1656. Herein we present a case of supernumerary kidney which was diagnosed by ultrasonography, intravenous urography and CT scanning.
Kidney* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract ; Urography

Case reports after accidental subdural injection during attempted epidural block have usually described extensive neuraxial blocks with a characteristic radiographic appearance on contrast injection. We experienced a case of cervical subdural injection with unusual clinical findings and radiographic appearance. A 51-year-old female patient with central herniated nucleus pulposus at cervical (C5/6) and lumbar level (L4/5, L5/S1) was referred to the pain clinic. During attempted cervical epidural block at the C6/7 interspace with fluoroscopy, injection of the 4 ml contrast showed posterior spread at cervical level. After cervical epidural steroid injection, the contrast was also confined to the posterior aspect of the spinal canal at lumbar level with fluoroscopy. In order to discriminate subdural space from epidural space, we performed transforaminal epidural injection of the 2 ml contrast at the L5/S1 interspace and we could confirm cervical epidural injection was made into the subdural space. We discuss the clinical characteristics of a subdural injection and the appearance of the cervical and lumbar subdurogram.
Epidural Space ; Female ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Middle Aged ; Pain Clinics ; Spinal Canal ; Subdural Space

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effectiveness of minimally invasive surgery total hip arthroplasty (THA) using the two-incision technique as described by Mears. METHODS: From January 2003 to December 2006, sixty-four patients underwent total hip arthroplasty using the one-incision (group I) and two-incision (group II) technique by one surgeon. There were 34 hips in group I and 30 hips in group II. There was no difference in age, gender, and causes of THA between the two groups. We evaluated the operation time, bleeding amount, incision length, ambulation, hospital stay, and complications between the two groups. RESULTS: There was no difference in the bleeding amount between the two groups. Operation time was longer in the two-incision group than in the one-incision group. Operation time of the two-incision technique could be reduced after 15 cases. Patients started ambulation after surgery earlier in group II than group I, and the hospital stay was shorter in group II than in group I. There was no difference in clinical results between the two groups. There was no difference in component position of the acetabular cup and femoral stem between the two groups. Intraoperative periprosthetic fracture occurred in four cases (13.3%) in group II. CONCLUSIONS: Two-incision THA has the advantage of rapid recovery and shorter hospital stay. However, longer operation time and a high complication rate compared to one-incision are problems that need to be solved in the two-incision technique.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive/*methods

Phenylpropanolamine is a sympathomimetic amine used widely as a decongestant or appetite suppressant. Reports of the myocardial injury from the use of phenylpropanolamine are rare and the mechanism of the myocardial injury is not known clearly. We experienced a case of myocardial injury after ingestion of phenyl-propanolamine. A 46-year-old woman was admitted because of chest pain and dyspnea after ingestion of 5 tablets of anorectic pill containing phenylpropanolamine 75 mg per tablet. The serum creatine kinase MB isoenzyme levels were elevated and electrocardiographic abnormalities suggesting myocardial infarction were seen in the precordial lead. In echocardiograpy, left ventricular anteroseptal wall motion was nearly akinetic but coronary angiography showed normal coronary arteries except sluggish blood flow in left anterior descending artery.
Appetite ; Arteries ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Creatine Kinase ; Dyspnea ; Eating* ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; Phenylpropanolamine* ; Tablets

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) affects systemic blood pressure and cardiac function. The development of cardiovascular dysfunction including the changes of systemic blood pressure and cardiac rhythm, suggests that recurrent hypoxia and arousals from sleep may increase a sympathetic nervous system activity. Continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP) therapy has been found to be an effective treatment of OSAS. However, only a few studies have investigated the cardiovascular and sympathetic effects of CPAP therapy. We evaluated influences of nasal CPAP therapy on the cardiovascular system and the sympathetic activity in patients with OSAS. METHODS: Thirteen patients with OSAS underwent CPAP therapy and were monitored using polysomnography, blood pressure, heart rate, presence of arrhythmia and the concentration of plasma catecholamines, before and with CPAP therapy. RESULTS: The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was significantly decreased (p<0.01) and the lowest arterial oxygen saturation level was elevated significantly after applying CPAP (p<0.01). Systolic blood pressure tended to decrease after CPAP but without statistical significance. Heart rates during sleep were not significantly different after CPAP. However, the frequency and number of types of arrhythmia decreased and sinus bradytachyarrhythmia disappeared after CPAP. Although there was no significantly decreased after CPAP (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: CPAP therapy decreased the apnea-hypopnea index, hypoxic episodes and plasma norepinephrine concentration. In addition, it decreased the incidence of arrhythmia and tended to decrease the systemic blood pressure. These results indicate that CPAP may play an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular complications in patients with OSAS.
Anoxia ; Arousal ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Blood Pressure* ; Cardiovascular System ; Catecholamines* ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Norepinephrine ; Oxygen ; Plasma ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* ; Sympathetic Nervous System