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

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*

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

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

PURPOSE: To evaluate the cysticidal effect of 5 kinds of commercially available contact lens disinfectants against 2 clinical isolates of Acanthamoeba. METHODS: Five kinds of commercially available contact lens disinfectants were soaked with cysts of Acanthamoeba ludgdunesis and castellanii at the concentration of 10(3), 10(4), and 10(5) cells/ml for 1 and 4 or 6 hours. Cysts which were not excysted in 7 days after treatment were recognized to be killed. Morphologic changes were evaluated by electron microscopic observation. RESULTS: Contact lens disinfectants which contain myristamidopropyl dimethylamine (MAPD) showed the best cysticidal effect. These disinfectants demonstrated a cysticidal effect on both Acanthamoeba species of all concentrations in 6-hour treatment. Contact lens disinfectants which contain polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) did not demonstrate cysticidal effect, except for Acanthamoeba castellanii at the concentration of 10(3) cells/ml, in either 4- or 6-hour treatment. Separation of plasma membrane from endocyst and damage of organelles were prominent in cases showing a cysticidal effect. CONCLUSIONS: Contact lens disinfectant which contains MAPD may be helpful in preventing the Acanthamoeba keratitis. A higher concentration of PHMB is required to be effective in preventing Acanthamoeba keratitis.
Acanthamoeba castellanii ; Acanthamoeba Keratitis ; Acanthamoeba* ; Cell Membrane ; Contact Lens Solutions ; Disinfectants ; Organelles

PURPOSE: In western society, prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the standard treatment under colorectal surgery for colorectal cancer. However, the incidence of VTE after colorectal surgery and the effect of prophylactic methods are not well known in Korea. The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of VTE and assess the efficacy and safety of low molecular weight heparin (enoxaparin) after major colorectal surgery in Korean patients with compression stockings. METHODS: From Jan. 2006 to Dec. 2008, 1,727 consecutive patients underwent major colorectal surgery. Thirty-six were excluded due to the therapeutic use of enoxaparin. A final number of 1,691 patients were included. Graduated compression stockings were used in all patients and 654 were perioperatively given enoxaparin. Only compression stocking group (group A) and compression stocking with enoxaparin group (group B) were compared in terms of VTE. The event of VTE within 6 months after surgery was counted by clinical symptoms, then imaging findings were used for confirmation. RESULTS: Total VTE developed in 10 patients (0.6%). Three with deep vein thrombosis had pulmonary embolism. Two had only pulmonary embolism. The rates of VTE were not different between group A and B (0.8% vs. 0.3%, P=0.333). Also, postoperative major bleeding was not significantly different. However, postoperative transfusion was higher in group B (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The incidence of VTE was very low after colorectal surgery in Korean patients with compression stockings. The additional use of enoxaparin for colorectal cancer patients with compression stockings seems to have little benefit for VTE prophylaxis.
Colorectal Neoplasms ; Colorectal Surgery ; Enoxaparin ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Stockings, Compression ; Venous Thromboembolism ; Venous Thrombosis

This report documents a case of myeloid erythrophagocytosis in a patient with myeloproliferative disorder. The patient had pancytopenia and his marrow was hyperplastic with erythrophagocytosis by myeloid cells of various stages, including myeloblasts. He was diagnosed to have a prefibrotic stage of chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis. The erythrophagocytosis by myeloid cells persisted even after 2 months of treatment for the primary disorder.
Erythrocytes/*pathology ; Human ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myeloid Cells/*pathology ; Myeloproliferative Disorders/*pathology ; Pancytopenia/pathology ; *Phagocytosis

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