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: 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

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

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

No abstract available.
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins*

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*

The stricture of the calyx, pelvis or ureter due to renal tuberculosis had been managed like nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy, ureteroileoneocystoplasty or even pancaliceal-ileoneocystoplasty. To salvage the renal parenchyme and to treat the tuberculous renal caliceal strictures, percutaneous endocalicotomy with or without endopyelotomy was performed in 10 cases from Aug. `90 to Jan. `92. The sites of stricture were mainly upper calyx in 6 cases and lower in 4. A cold knife was used to incise the stricture and a stenting 2-sectioned(14 Fr.) endopyelotomy catheter was retained for 6 to 8 weeks. Postoperative intravenous pyelography revealed marked shrinkage of the dilated calyx in 7 cases. moderate in 1 and no change in 2(success rate, 80%). In failed 2 cases, 1 cases was performed partial nephrectomy and the other was following. There was no significant complications except 1 case of upward migration of D-J catheter. In conclusion, endocalicotomy is safe, less invasive, successful (in cases that guide wire could pass) and parenchyme preserving procedure. The retregrade pyelography is mandatory just before the surgery because stricture can be progressed during Anti-Tbc chemotherapy.
Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Drug Therapy ; Nephrectomy ; Pelvis ; Stents ; Tuberculosis, Renal ; Ureter ; Urography

Though high stone free rates were reported with ESWL monotherapy or anatrophic nephrolithotomy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy with or without ESWL appears to be the procedure of choice for most staghorn calculi. A total of 41 patients with staghorn calculi underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy(PNL) alone or primary percutaneous debulking followed by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy(ESWL) of residual stone fragments. For the objective analysis of the results of PNL stone removal rate was calculated with stone surface area which was determined by computer analyzer. For staghorn calculi smaller than 2000 mm2(38/41), a mean stone removal rate of about 90% was achieved in the PNL. When stone surface area exceeded 2000 mm2(3,41), the mean stone removal rate was 78.8%. The stone removal rates stratified by stone surface area were not significantly different. The stone free rate was 31.7% in the PNL only but 75.6% in the PNL with or without ESWL. The higher mean stone removal rate and stone free rate was achieved in the kidneys with non-dilated collecting system than those with hydronephrosis, but it was not statistically significant.
Calculi* ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Kidney ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous* ; Shock

It has been postulated that seminal plasma contains a potent immunosuppressive factor(s) which play a critical role h preventing sensitization of females to sperm antigens after insemination. It has been shown that human seminal plasma (HuSePl) inhibited phytohemagglutinin(PHA) and Concanavalin A(ConA) induced blast transformation of normal peripheral blood lymphocytes. To analyze protein fractions of HuSePl and to observe suppression of cell-mediated immune response by each fraction, the authors performed the Sephadex G-100 chromatography and the lymphocyte transformation with parameters of purified PHA(PHA-P) and pokeweed mitogen(PWM) stimulation test. The results were as follows; 1. Sephadex G-100 chromatography of HuSePl yielded five fractions(Fr. 1-5). 2. The molecular weight of each fraction, assessed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS.PAGE), was from 14,000 daltons(D) to more than 85,000 D in Fr. 1, 42,000 D and 33,000 D in Fr. 2, 43,000 D in Fr. 3, 20,000 D in Fr. 4 and 19,000 D in Fr. 5. 3. The mean percentages .of suppression in PHA-P stimulation test by fractions isolated from HuSePl in male (n=I3) were 59.8+10.1% in Fr. 1, 59.5+23.0% in Fr. 2, 84.2+9.4% in Fr. 3, 60.9+/-2l.4% in Fr. 4, 49.4+/-23.2% in Fr. S(F=6.=8, P <0.01) and in female (n=13) were 64.6+/-11.7 % in Fr. 1, 65.4+13.1% in Fr. 2, 82.9+9.2% in Fr. 3, .55.4+21.5% in Fr. 4, 59.2+/-26.0% in Fr. 5(F=4.76, P <0.01). 4. The mean percentages of suppression in PWM stimulation test by fractions isolated from HuSePl in male (n=11) were 15.8+/-17.1% in Fr. 1, 45.1+18.6% in Fr. 2, 80.4+2.7% in Fr. 3, 61.7 + 4.2 % in Fr. 4, 63.5+/-12.8% in Fr. 5(F=38.91, P<0.01) and in female (n=11) were 9.5+/-15.3% in Fr. 1,32.9+/-20.5% in Fr. 2, 78.7+4.5% in Fr. 3,59.9+/-10.0% in Fr. 4, 55.3+15.2% in Fr. 5(F =39.65, P <0.01). 5. The sex difference was not significant in PHA and PWM stimulation test with each fraction (P>0.05). The results revealed that the Fr. 3 has the strongest suppressive effect on lymphocyte transformation activity and these observations support the concept that a local immune response against sperm in the female reproductive tract is actively suppressed by a component in seminal plasma.
Chromatography ; Female ; Humans* ; Infertility ; Insemination ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Molecular Weight ; Phytolacca americana ; Semen* ; Sex Characteristics ; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate ; Spermatozoa ; T-Lymphocytes*