PURPOSE: To study the short term effects of hypercholesterolemia on corpus cavernosal tissue, we performed isometric tension studies and RT-PCR was used to identify mRNA expression of VEGF on isolated strips of corpus cavernosum, on rabbits which underwent partial ligation of the abdominal aorta and received a diet containing 2% cholesterol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: New Zealand White rabbits were divided into a control group(n=6) fed with a regular diet and a hypercholesterolemic group(n=10) which underwent partial ligation of the abdominal aorta and received a diet containing 2% cholesterol. After 3 weeks, the relationship between hypercholesterolemia and cavernosal smooth muscle pathophysiology was studied. To characterize the cavernosal smooth muscle reactivity in hypercholesterolemia, we performed isometric tension studies with phenylephrine(PE), acetylcholine(Ach), sodium nitroprusside(SNP) and electrical field stimulation(ES). RT-PCR was used to identify the mRNA expression of VEGF. RESULTS: PE-induced cavernous smooth muscle contraction in the hypercholesterolemic group was increased compared with the control group(p<0.05), while relaxation by Ach and ES in PE pretreated cavernosal smooth muscle in the hypercholesterolemic group was decreased(p<0.05). Relaxation by SNP in PE pretreated cavernosal smooth muscle was not different between any experimental groups. Expression of VEGF mRNA in cavernosal smooth muscle was significantly increased in the hypercholesterolemic group compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Hypercholesterolemia caused a significant increase in PE-induced contraction of cavernosal tissue. Hypercholesterolemic cavernosal tissue retained the ability of relaxation induced by endothelium-independent, but relaxation induced by endothelium-dependant was impaired. Furthermore, expression of VEGF mRNA in cavernosal tissues was up regulated in the hypercholesterolemic group. This study showed that a short period of hypercholesterolemia could induce pathophysiologic change of cavernosal tissue.
Aorta, Abdominal ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Hypercholesterolemia* ; Ligation ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; Rabbits* ; Relaxation ; RNA, Messenger ; Sodium ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

PURPOSE: Hand-assisted laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy (HALDN) are being performed at our institution in an attempt to make live donor more attractive to the potential donor. We review the results of HALD N retrospectively and compare them with those obtained using the standard open approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 9 consecutive HALDN were performed from February 2000 through June 2000. The control group consisted of the 22 open donor nephrectomy at the same institution from January 1999 through December 1999 immediately before the initiation of HALDN. Live donors were considered candidates for HALDN if they possessed left normal renal anatomy with single renal vessels and ureter. Among 9 HALDN patients, one patient had two main renal arteries and another one patient had a polar artery. We evaluated sex, age, body weight, BMI (Body Mass Index) basically. And we evaluated renal ischemic time, operation time, to normal activities, postoperative serum creatinine level, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in male-female ratio, age distribution and weight-height ratio between two groups. Warm ischemic time for HALDN group was 3 to 4 min and it was not different with open surgery. Operation time was prolonged in HALDN group (284.4+/-72.8 min) compared to open group (193.1+/-26.7 min) (p Age Distribution ; Arteries ; Body Weight ; Chylous Ascites ; Creatinine ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Length of Stay ; Nephrectomy* ; Pneumothorax ; Postoperative Complications ; Renal Artery ; Retrospective Studies ; Tissue Donors* ; Ureter ; Warm Ischemia

PURPOSE: Caliceal diverticular calculi are mostly asymptomatic. In certain cases they may be associated with chronic or recurrent pain, recurrent urinary tract infections, progressive renal damage and hematur ia. The treatment of symptomatic caliceal diverticular calculi has evolved from open surgery to less invasive procedures, such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL), percutaneous techniques, retrograde ureteroscopy and laparoscopy, but it remains controversial. Percutaneous techniques are frequently used to address the diverticular stone burden, to fulgurate the diverticular wall, to dilated the diverticular neck and improve drainage. For this reason, we reviewed 33 patients with caliceal diverticular calculi to determine whether they could be treated successfully by percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) as the initial treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 33 patients with caliceal diverticular calculi underwent PCNL between February 1990 and February 2000. The majority of diverticula were located at the upper pole. Access was gained via a direct target puncture. After sequential dilatation of the tract, stones were removed and the diverticular wall was fulgurated. The diverticular neck was dilated with the Amplatz dilator upto 24-30 Fr. and a 20 Fr. nephrostomy catheter was placed. RESULTS: PCNL was performed successfully in 30 patients (90.9%), but puncture was failed in 3. Mean operative time was 105 minutes and mean hospital stay was 4.5 days. All patients who were treated successfully with PCNL became stone-free without any complication. Mean follow-up was 20 months (ranged from 1 to 108 months). Of the 26 patients with symptoms preoperatively, 25 patients were rendered symptom-free (96.2%). Twenty-four patients were assessed with an intravenous urogram at 1 or 3 months and 6, 12 months and there was no stone recurrence. The diverticula were obliterated or had improved drainage in 95.8% (23/24) of assessable cases. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that PCNL is a safe, less invasive and effective procedure and should be considered an acceptable form of primary management of patients with caliceal diverticular stone.
Calculi ; Catheters ; Dilatation ; Diverticulum ; Drainage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Lithotripsy ; Neck ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; Operative Time ; Punctures ; Recurrence ; Shock ; Ureteroscopy ; Urinary Tract Infections

PURPOSE: The aim of this presentation is to analyze the factors influencing on retrograde insertion of double-J catheter in urethral obstruction due to malignancy and to predict the possibility of stunting with double-J catheter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 43 patients who had underwent retrograde double-J catheter insertion for urethral obstruction secondary to pelvic malignancy, from January 1993 to April 1997, was performed to evaluate the success rates of double-J ureteral stenting according to the factors such as age, sex, presence or absence of flank pain, degree of hydronephrosis, renal function, stage of tumor, laterality of ureter, past history of radiotherapy, operation and chemotherapy. RESULTS: According to the degree of hydronephrosis, the success rate was 100, 73.7 and 50% in grade I II and III, respectively(p<0.05). According to the renal function, the success rate was 81.3% in the group with normal renal function and 45.5% in the group with abnormal venal function(p<0.05) According to the stage of disease, the success rate was 100, 70.7 and 58.3% in stage I, II and III, respectively. According to the absence or presence of flank pain, the success rate was 56.3% in the group with flank pain and 81.5% in the group without flank pain. According to the past history of radiotherapy, the success rate was 65.6% in the group treated with radiotherapy and 90.9% in the group not treated with radiotherapy. The age, sex, laterality of ureter, past history of operation and chemotherapy were not significantly correlated to the success rates. CONCLUSIONS: The factors influencing on double-J ureteral slanting were the degree of hydronephrosis, renal function, absence or presence of flank pain, stage of disease and past history of radiotherapy Further study will be needed to demonstrate the accurate timing of urethral stenting with doublets ureteral catheter.
Catheters* ; Drug Therapy ; Flank Pain ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Ureter* ; Ureteral Obstruction* ; Urethral Obstruction ; Urinary Catheters

No abstract available.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Collagen* ; Insulin* ; Rats* ; Streptozocin*

Impaired endothelium dependent relaxation occurs in diabetic rabbit corpus cavernosum and normal corpus cavernosum exposed to elevated glucose. Elevation of glucose can change the activities of two key enzymes, protein kinase C (PKC) and Na+-K+ ATPase. This study addresses the question of whether impaired endothelium dependent relaxation in isolated corpus cavernosum from normal rabbit exposed to elevated glucose is related to PKC and Na+-K+ ATPase activities and, if so, whether it is associated with altered ouabain sensitive 86-Rb uptake, an index of Na+-K+ ATPase activity, and contractile response of corpus cavernosum tissue to ouabain. Corpus cavernosal tissue suspended for measurement of isometric tension were incubated for 6 hours in control (5.5mM) or elevated glucose (44mM) to mimic euglycemic and hyperglycemic conditions. Relaxations of corpus cavernosum tissue in response to the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine (ACh)were unaffected in control groups while significantly inhibited in the elevated glucose group. Relaxations of corporeal tissue to endothelium-independent vasodilators, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were similar in the control and elevated glucose groups. Corporeal tissue treated with 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a PKC activator, showed decreased relaxations to ACh, similar to normal corporeal tissue exposed to elevated glucose. Relaxations in response to SNP were unaffected by treatment with PMA or exposure to elevated glucose. 1(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), PKC inhibitor, restored the abnormal Ach-induced relaxation in corporeal tissue exposed to elevated glucose. The contractions caused by ouabain, Na+-K+ ATPase inhibitor, were smaller in elevated glucose groups than control and elevated glucose groups treated with H-7. Ouabain sensitive 86-Rb uptake of elevated glucose groups was significantly less than that of control groups but ouabain sensitive 86-Rb uptake of elevated glucose groups treated with H-7 was similar to those of control groups. These results suggest that activation in PKC activity and inhibition in Na+-K+ ATPase activity caused by elevated glucose contribute to impaired endothelium dependent relaxation in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle.
1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine ; Acetylcholine ; Adenosine Triphosphatases* ; Endothelium ; Glucose* ; Muscle, Smooth ; Nitroprusside ; Ouabain ; Protein Kinase C* ; Protein Kinases* ; Relaxation* ; Vasodilator Agents

No abstract available.
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Rats* ; Urinary Bladder*

Recently. the endopyelotomy has been used as a first choice of treatment in selected cases of ureteropelvic or ureteral strictures. 24 consecutive cages of endourologic-tomy procedure including 12 cases of endopyelotomy. 8 cases of endoureterotomy and 4 cases of endocalicotomy were performed from Nov. '89 to May '91. The causes of stricture were previous operation (7 cases), congenital (6 cases). tuberculosis (5 cases) and others. They were all followed more than 3 months. The overall success rete was 83.3%. The success means improvement of clinical symptoms and radiographic findings. The complications were upward migration of stent (1 case), granuloma (1 case) and re-stricture (2 cases). Especially in 1 cases of caliceal stricture the success rate was 100% with no complication. Our experience indicates that endourologic-tomy procedure has relatively good success rate, low morbidity, Low complication and a shorter recovery time. Especially endocalicotomy is one of the best method to treat caliceal stricture.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Granuloma ; Neck* ; Stents ; Tuberculosis ; Ureter*

Percutaneous endoscopic surgery for the treatment of upper urinary tract stone or stricture has proved less invasive, reliable and safe with results comparable to open surgery. Because this contains many procedures, however, one can expect complications at some extents. Between 1987 and 1994, 410 percutaneous endoscopic procedures - PNL (330 cases), endopyelotomy (40 cases), endoinfundibulotomy (24 cases), endoureterotomy (10 cases), nephropexy (6 cases) - were performed by three operators in one hospital. The incidence of complication was evaluated and compared statistically. Overall complication rates were 23.6% and there was no mortality. Bleeding necessitating transfusion (7.6%) and fever (7.1%) were the most frequent complications. Other complications included renal pelvis or ureteral perforation (6.8%), paralytic ileus (2.9%), sepsis (0.7%), pneumothorax (0.7%), stent migration (0.7%), atelectasis (0.2%), ureteral stricture (0.2%), colon perforation (0.2%). Surgical interventions for the management of complication included nephrectomy (2 cases) for uncontrolled bleeding, and open repair for colon perforation (1 case). Renal artery embolization stopped the delayed bleeding in one case. Data on complications occurring before and after the first 50 cases indicated a statistically significant decrease in complications (p<0.005). These complications could be attributed to inexperience, improper technique, underlying pathologic conditions, and anatomic variants. As might be expected, the complication rate was much lower on later cases according to the increasing experience and improved technique. Based on our accumulated experience, the experience with more than 50 procedures could be needed to minimize complications.
Colon ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Endoscopy ; Fever ; Hemorrhage ; Incidence ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; Kidney Pelvis ; Mortality ; Nephrectomy ; Pneumothorax ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Renal Artery ; Sepsis ; Stents ; Ureter ; Urinary Calculi