PURPOSE: Laparoscopic nephrectomy has become accepted as a method of simple nephrectomy replacing with open nephrectomy in patients in whom a kidney requires removal for benign disease. Laparoscopic nephrecto my is widely performed and extends its indications. We evaluated our experience with the laparoscopic nephrectomy to assess the clinical efficacy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 1996 and September 1999, 23 patients (7 men and 16 women, mean age 44.1 years old) underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy, 16 by women, mean age 44.1 years old) underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy, 16 by the transperitoneal approach and 7 by the retroperitoneal approach. Operative and clinical records were reviewed. The underlying pathological conditions included 20 cases of non-functioning kidney, 2 cases of hypoplastic kidney with complete duplication and ectopic ureter, and 1 case of ureter tumor. Four ports (21 cases, two 12mm ports and two 5mm ports) or 5 posts ( 2 cases, two 12mm ports and three 5mm ports) were used. RESULTS: The laparoscopic procedure were successful in 20 cases (87%). Three patients had open conversion due to unclear anatomy, severe adhesion, and adrenal bleeding. In successful cases, mean operative time was 253+/-83 minutes (range 140-545), mean hospital stay was postoperative 5.2 days. Intraoperative and perioperative complications were noted in 6 patients, including bleeding requiring transfusion in 3, wound infection in 1, severe subcutaneous emphysema in 1, diarrhea in 1. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic simple nephrectomy is feasible, effective, and safe treatment option. It is a less invasive alternative to open surgery providing a more rapid recuperation and superior cosmetic effect.
Diarrhea ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Kidney ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Nephrectomy* ; Operative Time ; Subcutaneous Emphysema ; Ureter ; Wound Infection

PURPOSE: recent studies have reported that the expression of Drg-1 is up-regulated by androgen. It has been suggested that Drg-1 gene be used as a molecular marker for prostate cancer therapies like PSA. To de termine the role of Drg-1 gene as a molecular marker during intermittent androgen deprivation(IAD) therapy, we investigated the expression of Drg-1 and compared it with PSA expression in human prostate cancer cell lines treated with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) continuously or intermittently. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two prostate cancer cells having different status of androgen receptor [LNCaP (androgen dependent) and PC-3 (androgen independent)] were used in this study. To know the change in PSA and Drg-1 expression after DHT treatment the cells were cultured in steroid-free RPMI media for 24 hours. 10(-7) and 10(-8)M of DHT and 10(-7)M bicalutimide was added into the cells and then cultured for 72 hours. And we established in vitro IAD model using LNCaP cells. Northern analyses were performed to determine the expression level of both PSA and Drg-1genes. Also, western analyses were performed to determine the protein level of proliferating cellular nuclear antigen and androgen receptor. RESULTS: Transcripts of Drg-1 were detected in both LNCaP and PC-3 cells but PSA was not expressed in PC-3 cells. The expression of Drg-1gene in LNCaP cells was up-regulated by 10(-8)M of DHT like PSA gene and down-regulated by 10(-7)M bicalutamide. In the treatment of intermittent androgen deprivation, the expression pattern of Drg-1was similar to that of PSA. However, up-regulation of PSA was detected earlier than of Drg-1. CONCLUSIONS: Based on observation, Drg-1 was up-regulated by androgen and down-regulated by anti-androgen. This suggests that Drg-1gene is useful for determining the androgen independency of prostate cancer during IAD.
Cell Line ; Dihydrotestosterone ; Humans ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Receptors, Androgen ; Up-Regulation

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Bronchi*

No abstract available in English.
Female ; Humans ; Urinary Incontinence*

Recent technological advances have made magnetic resonance images (MR) of the knee a clinical reality. MR is rapidly replacing the conventional arthrography as the imaging modality of choice of the knee joints. To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of MR in the internal derangement of the knee. MR findings of 244 menisci and 488 ligaments of 122 knees were correlated with those of subsequent arthroscopy or surgery in all cases. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MR diagnosis for the medial meniscus were 87%, 93%, 91%, for the lateral meniscus 91%, 95%, 93%, for the anterior cruciate ligament 80%, 97%, 92%, for the posterior cruciate ligamant 73%, 99%, 97%, for the medial collateral ligament 67%, 100%, 99%, for the lateral collateral ligament 100%, 100% and 100%. These results imply that MR is an excellent diagnostic modality in the preoperative evaluation of clinically suspected internal derangement of the knee.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Arthrography ; Arthroscopy ; Collateral Ligaments ; Diagnosis ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Lateral Ligament, Ankle ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Menisci, Tibial ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Recent technological advances have made magnetic resonance images (MR) of the knee a clinical reality. MR is rapidly replacing the conventional arthrography as the imaging modality of choice of the knee joints. To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of MR in the internal derangement of the knee. MR findings of 244 menisci and 488 ligaments of 122 knees were correlated with those of subsequent arthroscopy or surgery in all cases. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MR diagnosis for the medial meniscus were 87%, 93%, 91%, for the lateral meniscus 91%, 95%, 93%, for the anterior cruciate ligament 80%, 97%, 92%, for the posterior cruciate ligamant 73%, 99%, 97%, for the medial collateral ligament 67%, 100%, 99%, for the lateral collateral ligament 100%, 100% and 100%. These results imply that MR is an excellent diagnostic modality in the preoperative evaluation of clinically suspected internal derangement of the knee.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Arthrography ; Arthroscopy ; Collateral Ligaments ; Diagnosis ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Lateral Ligament, Ankle ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Menisci, Tibial ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: To compare two combined surgical techniques, endoscopic endonasal surgery with transconjunctival reconstruction and transcaruncular surgery with transconjunctival reconstruction, when used to treat both medial and inferior orbital wall fractures. METHODS: A retrospective review of 63 patients who were followed up from January 2011 to December 2014 at Inha University Hospital for surgical reconstruction of combined medial and inferior orbital wall fractures was undertaken. We compared between the patients the computed tomographic scans, diplopia, extraocular muscle (EOM) movements, and Hertel's exophthalmometer exams pre- and post-6 months surgery. A total of 29 patients received endoscopic transnasal surgery with trasconjunctival reconstruction, and 34 received transcaruncular surgery with trans-conjunctival reconstruction. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two combined methods in terms of the primary and peripheral gaze diplopia or the restriction of EOM movement 6 months after surgery. However, statistically significant differences were observed in exophthalmometer measurements 6 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The two combined surgical methods showed similar results in terms of postoperative primary and peripheral gaze diplopia, EOM restriction, and enophthalmos. With respect to postoperative peripheral diplopia, endoscopic endosnasal surgery with transconjunctival reconstruction showed several advantages over the other method considered in this study. An appropriate surgical method should be selected by comparing the relative advantages and disadvantages.
Diplopia ; Enophthalmos ; Humans ; Methods ; Orbit* ; Retrospective Studies

To evaluate the role of magnetic resonance(MR) imaging in the diagnosis of the discoid meniscus, the authors reviewed 31 cases of discoid menisci diagnosed by MR imaging among which 16 cases received arthroscopy. Using knee surface coil, sagittal T1, T2, & protein density images and coronal T1 weighted images were obtained with 18 cm FOV & 4mm/1 mm thickness/gap. A discoid meniscus was considered if three or more contiguous sagittal images demonstrated continuity of the meniscus between the anterior and posterior horns or the diameter of the mid-portion of the meniscus exceeded 15 mm on the coronal image. The authors also observed the associated abnormalities including tears of meniscus and ligament, meniscal cyst, and osteochondral defects. All discoid menisci were lateral menisci and torn discoid lateral menisci were present in 26 cases(83%). In two cases, tears of the contralateral medial meniscus were present. The tears of anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, meniscal cyst, and osteochondral defects were present in 4, 2, 4, and 5 cases respectively. All collateral ligaments were intact. In conclusion MR imaging was useful for the detection of discoid meniscus and associated abnormalities.
Animals ; Arthroscopy ; Collateral Ligaments ; Diagnosis ; Horns ; Knee* ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Menisci, Tibial ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament ; Tears

PURPOSE: To compare the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness among normal children, glaucoma suspects, and children with glaucoma, using optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Ninety-four eyes of 47 normal children, 62 eyes of 38 glaucoma suspects and 33 eyes of 21 children with glaucoma, from the ages of 5 to 15 years were examined at the Ophthalmology Center at the Inha University Hospital. The RNFL thickness was measured with OCT. Patient cooperation and signal strength of the OCT scans were assessed. The mean, superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal RNFL thicknesses were measured by OCT in all three groups. RESULTS: After adjustment by refractive error, the RNFL thicknesses of the mean, superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal areas were 110.8+/-10.1 micrometer, 140.1+/-17.5 micrometer, 134.1+/-14.8 micrometer, 79.9+/-14.5 micrometer, and 89.2+/-16.8 micrometer, respectively, in the normal group; 107.9+/-10.8 micrometer, 134.8+/-15.5 micrometer, 130.2+/-18.8 micrometer, 75.4+/-17.1 micrometer, and 91.2+/-18.7 micrometer, respectively, in the glaucoma suspect group; and 102.8+/-18.1 micrometer, 129.5+/-16.5 micrometer, 126.1+/-20.2 micrometer, 70.3+/-19.7 micrometer, and 85.1+/-16.9 micrometer, respectively, in the glaucoma patient group. There was a significant difference among the three groups in all locations except in the temporal area (p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: RNFL thickness in children measured by OCT may be useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of glaucoma in children.
Child ; Eye ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Nerve Fibers ; Ophthalmology ; Patient Compliance ; Refractive Errors ; Retinaldehyde ; Tomography, Optical Coherence