No abstract available.
Transplants* ; Urinary Incontinence*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Binding Sites* ; Carbon Monoxide* ; Carbon* ; Rats* ; Serotonin*

No Abstract Available.
Allografts* ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament*

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

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to clarify the anatomy of the male rat urethra, and to establish a more accurate and consistent method for analyzing external urethral sphincter (EUS) contractility based on this clarified anatomy by comparing different muscle strip orientations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The whole urethra in male rats was investigated histologically using H/E and immunohistochemical staining. The contractility of the spiral (S) orientation of the entire proximal urethral (EUS) was then compared with the transverse (T) and the ring (R) orientations of the optimal portion, via electrical stimulation in an organ bath. RESULTS: In male rats, the urethral tract consisted of following parts: proximal urethra, transient urethra, urethral diverticula, and penile urethra. Throughout the proximal urethra, a layer of striated muscle fibers encircled the smooth muscle layers. The EUS contraction of the S, TM (Transverse, Middle of proximal urethra) and RM (Ring, Middle of proximal urethra) groups were 4.66+/-0.33mN, 2.92+/-0.33mN and 2.47+/-0.38mN, respectively. The strength of the EUS contraction of the S group was significantly higher than that of the TM. Group, but after adjusting the length, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike previous studies, showing striated muscle fibers limited to the lower half of the proximal urethra, we noted them throughout the whole proximal urethra. From our results, the spiral orientation of the entire urethra was found to be the optimal configuration for evaluating the contractility of the EUS using fast twitch muscle contractile testing.
Animals ; Baths ; Diverticulum ; Electric Stimulation ; Humans ; Male* ; Muscle, Smooth ; Muscle, Striated ; Rats* ; Urethra*

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED), and the correlations of ED with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the antihypertensive drugs that are used for CVD patients as risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 200 cardiology outpatients suffering with CVD were enrolled in this study. The patients were screened for ED by using questionnaire that included the 5-item Version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5); the patients were reviewed for a medical history, including the risk factors for CVD and their current antihypertensive medications. RESULTS: Overall, 58% of the patients had various degrees of ED, including mild in 9.5%, moderate in 2.5% and complete dysfunction in 46%. The prevalence of complete ED was significantly higher than the other ED types. The risk factors for patients with CVD were hypertension (70.0%), smoking (61.5%), coronary artery disease (CAD) (55.0%), overweight (47.0%), age (40.5%), lipid abnormalities (24.5%) and diabetes (16.5%). Especially, the patients having an older age, CAD and smoking had a significantly higher prevalence of ED than those patients with the other risk factors. Although the patients treated with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors showed significant correlations for the antihypertensive drugs with the prevalence of ED, all the antihypertensive drugs were not independently associated with the presence of ED on the multivariable logistic regression test. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides data on the prevalence of ED and the significant correlation of ED with old age, CAD and smoking for the patients with CVD. Although it is a well known fact that CVD is associated with ED, most physicians do not ask the patients questions about it, and most of the patients are too embarrassed to discuss their ED with them. Therefore, understanding the relationship between ED and CVD is essential.
Antihypertensive Agents ; Cardiology ; Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Erectile Dysfunction* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Outpatients ; Overweight ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are main pathogens of bloodstream infection. We compared the epidemiology of ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae. METHODS: From January 2003 through March 2007, we retrospectively investigated the clinical characteristics and comorbidities of patients with bloodstream infection by ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae. RESULTS: During the study period, 79 patients (54 with E. coli and 25 with K. pneumoniae) with blood cultures positive for ESBL-producing E. coli or K. pneumoniae were studied. When comparing the source of bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs) were more commonly caused by E. coli (24% vs. 0; P=0.007), and respiratory tract and soft tissue infection (36% vs. 15%; P=0.04, 12% vs. 0; P=0.03, respectively) were more commonly associated with K. pneumoniae. Among hospital-acquired bloodstream infection, third-generation cephalosporin was more commonly used in patients with E. coli than patients with K. pneumoniae (81% vs. 24%, P<0.001). Medical devices (central venous catheter and urinary catheter) were more commonly used in patients with K. pneumoniae. CONCLUSION: ESBL-producing E. coli bloodstream infection is more common in urinary tract infections. ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae is more common in respiratory tract infections and in skin and soft tissue infections. In hospital-acquired infections, ESBL-producing E. coli bloodstream infection is more common in biliary tract infection. ESBL-producing E. coli was more commonly associated with prior frequent antibiotics use and K. pneumoniae was more commonly associated with use of medical devices.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; beta-Lactamases ; Biliary Tract ; Catheters ; Comorbidity ; Epidemiology* ; Escherichia coli* ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae* ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory System ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Soft Tissue Infections ; Urinary Tract Infections

OBJECTIVES: Cord blood stem cells have been widely used as donor cells for bone marrow transplantation recently. These cells can give rise to a variety of hematopoietic lineages to repopulate the blood. Recent observations reveal that some bone marrow cells and bone marrow stromal cells(MSCs) can grow to become either neurons or glial cells. It is, however, unclear whether or not there exists stems cells which can differentiate into neurons in the blood during the early stages of postnatal life. METHODS: Human cord blood stem cells were prepared from human placenta after full term delivery. To induce neuronal differentiation of stem cells, beta-mercaptoethanol was treated. To confirm the neuro-glial characteristics of differentiated stem cells, immunocytochemical stain for NeuN, neurofilament, glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP), microtubule associated protein2(MAP2) was performed. RT-PCR was performed for detecting nestin mRNA and MAP2 mRNA. RESULTS: We showed in this experiment that neuro-glial markers(NeuN, neurofilament, MAP2, GFAP) were expressed and axon-like cytoplasmic processes are elaborated in the cultured human cord blood stem cells prepared from new born placenta after full term delivery. Nestin mRNA was also detected in fresh cord blood monocytes. Conclusions: These results suggest that human cord blood derived stem cells may be potential sources of neurons in early postnatal life.
Bone Marrow ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cytoplasm ; Fetal Blood* ; Humans* ; Microtubules ; Monocytes ; Nestin ; Neural Stem Cells ; Neuroglia ; Neurons ; Placenta ; RNA, Messenger ; Stem Cells ; Tissue Donors ; Umbilical Cord*

The nutcracker phenomenon consists in the compression of the left renal vein between the superior mesenteic artery and the aorta, and this syndrome is an infrequent cause of left-sided hematuria. We present a case of the nutcracker syndrome with intermittent gross hematuria to increase the awareness of this possible cause of hematuria.
Aorta ; Arteries ; Hematuria ; Renal Veins

PUROPOSE: We analyzed retrospectively the result of urodynamic studies of the female patients with overactive bladder to reveal the incidence of accompanying bladder outlet obstruction and compared the urodynamic charateristics according to the diagnostic criteria for bladder outlet obstruction to help make the appropriate diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 230 women who underwent urodynamic studies for evaluation of overactive bladder were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were classified as having obstruction based on two criteria, including one pressure flow cutoff point criteria (free Qmax < 12ml/sec and pdetQmax > or = 20cmH2O) (group I) and moderate or severe obstruction by the Blaivas- Groutz nomogram (group II). Urodynamic characteristics of the patients in Group 1 and 2 were compared with those of 42 patients having only overactive bladder without any voiding symptom (OAB group). RESULTS: Of the patients 31 (13.5%) were in group I, 42 (18.3%) in group II. Qmax of group I was the lowest among 3 groups. Detrusor pressure at maximum measurable flow and maximum detrusor pressure during voiding in group 1 and II were significantly higher than in OAB group. Detrusor overactivity was more observed in group I and II, and there was no signigicant difference in the presence of voiding symptoms between group I and II. Only 9 patients (4%) had obstruction by both of criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the high incidence of bladder outlet obstruction in the patients of overactive bladder and non-specificity of the symptoms by bladder outlet obstruction, thorough urodynamic study may be helpful in detection and treatment of bladder outlet obstruction of the overactive bladder patients. The further study for the criteria of female bladder outlet obstruction should be necessary to make its accurate diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Nomograms ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction* ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive* ; Urodynamics