PURPOSE: Testicular microlithiasis (TM) is an uncommon pathologic condition that is commonly diagnosed by scrotal ultrasonography. Indirect evidence suggests that this syndrome may be associated with an increased risk of testicular malignancy and infertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,439 patients undergoing scrotal ultrasound during a 6-year, 5-month period (January 2003 to May 2009) were retrospectively reviewed. Any possible association of TM with pathologic findings was assessed. Among patients with TM, further grading of TM with testicular cancer and semen analysis of the infertile group with TM were also performed. RESULTS: TM was diagnosed in 87 patients (6.0%) out of a total of 1,439. Of all established pathologic entities, only testicular malignancy and infertility were meaningfully associated with TM. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of testicular cancer between each grade. Seminal profiles (sperm count, motility, morphology, and white blood cell count) were not found to be statistically different between infertile men with and without TM. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of TM in symptomatic men was found to be 6.0% with significant co-occurrence of TM, testicular cancer, and infertility. Further grading of TM does not seem to be essential with regard to the detection of patients with testicular cancer and TM. TM showed no significant effect on the seminal profiles of infertile men.
Calculi ; Humans ; Infertility ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Semen Analysis ; Testicular Diseases ; Testicular Neoplasms ; Testis

Since vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to be a potent pro-angiogenic factor, we evaluated the potential association of two VEGF gene polymorphisms (-634G>C and 936C>T) with the susceptibility and the clinicopathologic characteristics of colorectal cancer (CRC). The VEGF genotypes were determined using fresh colorectal tissue from 465 patients who had undergone a surgical resection and peripheral blood lymphocytes from 413 healthy controls by PCR/DHPLC assay. For the -634G>C polymorphism, the -634 GC or CC genotype was associated with a decreased risk of CRC (odds ratio [OR], 0.62; p=0.001) as a dominant model of C allele, whereas the 936 TT genotype correlated with advanced stage/ metastasis, a high serum level of CA19-9, and an higher grade in patients with CRC. In the haplotype analyses, haplotype -634C/936C and -634G/936T were associated with a decreased susceptibility of CRC (OR, 0.53 and 0.56; p<0.001, respectively). These observations imply that the VEGF gene polymorphisms may be associated with the susceptibility or clinicopathologic features of CRC. However, further studies of other VEGF sequence variants and their biological functions are needed to understand the role of the VEGF gene polymorphisms in the development and progression of CRC.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*epidemiology/*genetics/secondary ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/epidemiology ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/epidemiology/genetics/pathology ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk Factors ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/*genetics

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the prevalence, related factors, and outcome of acute renal failure (ARF) developed in the patients who survived following a cardiac arrest. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of medical records was underwent in 24 patients who survived among 68 patients receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the emergency center of Inha-hospital, Sungnam, Korea, from January 1999 to February 2001. Clinical factors before, during and after CPR were compared and contrasted between the patients who manifested ARF after CPR and those who did not. RESULTS: ARF occurs at 33% following CPR. ARF group showed high baseline creatine kinase (CK) level, longer duration of resuscitation, and larger dosages of epinephrine usage during CPR. During 24 hours after CPR, mean arterial pressure and hourly urine output were significantly lower and dopamine was administered significantly higher in ARF group. Among them seven patients died in 2.3+/-0.8 hospital day with a mean serum creatinine of 2.8+/-1.7 mg/dL. None required renal replacement therapy in ARF group. Mean admission durations were 4.4+/-2.8 and 14.0+/-11.5 days. Survival rate was 12.5% in ARF group, which was significantly low compared to 75% in non-ARF group. CONCLUSION: In spite of high mortality rate in ARF group, ARF by itself was not a direct cause of death. We suggest that the development of ARF is a predicting but not a causative factor of death in the survivors following CPR.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Arterial Pressure ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* ; Cause of Death ; Creatine Kinase ; Creatinine ; Dopamine ; Emergencies ; Epinephrine ; Gyeonggi-do ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Prevalence ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Resuscitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Survivors

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the prevalence, related factors, and outcome of acute renal failure (ARF) developed in the patients who survived following a cardiac arrest. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of medical records was underwent in 24 patients who survived among 68 patients receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the emergency center of Inha-hospital, Sungnam, Korea, from January 1999 to February 2001. Clinical factors before, during and after CPR were compared and contrasted between the patients who manifested ARF after CPR and those who did not. RESULTS: ARF occurs at 33% following CPR. ARF group showed high baseline creatine kinase (CK) level, longer duration of resuscitation, and larger dosages of epinephrine usage during CPR. During 24 hours after CPR, mean arterial pressure and hourly urine output were significantly lower and dopamine was administered significantly higher in ARF group. Among them seven patients died in 2.3+/-0.8 hospital day with a mean serum creatinine of 2.8+/-1.7 mg/dL. None required renal replacement therapy in ARF group. Mean admission durations were 4.4+/-2.8 and 14.0+/-11.5 days. Survival rate was 12.5% in ARF group, which was significantly low compared to 75% in non-ARF group. CONCLUSION: In spite of high mortality rate in ARF group, ARF by itself was not a direct cause of death. We suggest that the development of ARF is a predicting but not a causative factor of death in the survivors following CPR.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Arterial Pressure ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* ; Cause of Death ; Creatine Kinase ; Creatinine ; Dopamine ; Emergencies ; Epinephrine ; Gyeonggi-do ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Prevalence ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Resuscitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Survivors