PURPOSE: It has been generally known that prostatic volume is increased related to aging process and changing in hormonal environment, so lower urinary tract symptoms develops. But, our experience has revealed the decrease of prostatic volume in many cases with lower urinary tract symptoms despite aging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The numbers of patient underwent TRUS were 301 cases. Among the patients who had visited urologic outpatient clinic from march, 1993 to march, 1996, transrectal ultrasonography of prostate was applied to patient with following conditions. 1) over 8 in IPSS with or without enlarged evidence from digital rectal examination 2) enlarged evidence from digital rectal examination 3) no symptomatic relief after 2weeks therapy with alpha blocker 4) when the patient wants more evaluation. RESULTS: Decrease of prostatic volume were shown in 66cases(22%) despite lower urinary tract symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, many patients with lower urinary tract symptoms showed decrease of prostatic volume. So, we expect that many more cases of decrease of prostatic volume can be seen among asymptomatic cases with age. Because we can guess that prostatic volume can be influenced by racial differences and dietary habit, we also believe that further evaluation and investigation of this nature is needed.
Aging ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Digital Rectal Examination ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Prostate ; Ultrasonography

This study was done to report the epidemiologic characteristics of medical retirement from the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army due to visual impairment and to suggest a practical screening system for the draft. The medical records of 423 eyes of 301 patients who retired from the ROK Army due to visual impairment were reviewed retrospectively between January 2010 and December 2014. The patients were grouped by the presence of trauma, and each group was subdivided by military rank. We analyzed demographic and ophthalmic data, including the etiology of ophthalmologic disease. The etiology was classified into 5 anatomical categories (ocular surface, lens, retina, optic nerve and extraocular visual pathway, and extraocular muscle and orbit), which were then subdivided into the type of disease. The mean age was 24.5 years, and non-traumatic mechanisms accounted for 81.1% (343/423 eyes) of medical retirements. Visual acuity was better in patients without trauma. In enlisted soldiers, disease in the optic nerve and extraocular visual pathway was the most common anatomical category (40.5%), and primary open angle glaucoma (30.8%), retinal dystrophy (18.3%), congenital cataract (14.5%), and retinal detachment (9.7%) were the four most common diseases. Most medical retirements due to visual impairment resulted from non-traumatic mechanisms, even though patients were young. The fundus examination and visual field test would be more useful tools than a conventional vision test for large-scale draft screening for the most common two disease types: primary open angle glaucoma and retinal dystrophy.
Adult ; Cataract/epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle/epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Military Personnel ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retinal Dystrophies/epidemiology ; *Retirement ; Retrospective Studies ; Vision Disorders/epidemiology/*pathology ; Visual Acuity ; Young Adult

Sparganosis is a parasite infestation caused by the larval stage of Spirometra erinacei. Ingestion of raw or undercooked flesh of numerous intermediate hosts results in human infection. Sparganum infestation of human body was reported over 120 cases including urogenital lesions in Korean literatures since 1924. But, no case of sparganosis in the spermatic cord was reported until now. We experienced a case of sparganosis in the spermatic cord.
Eating ; Human Body ; Humans ; Parasites ; Sparganosis* ; Sparganum ; Spermatic Cord* ; Spirometra

OBJECTIVE: Surfactant protein (SP)-A and SP-D are involved in host defense mechanism. The author was prompted to perform a study on morphologic change and SP-A, SP-D level of surfactant after pulmonary injury inflicted by intratracheal bleomycin injection. METHODS: Fifteen white adult rats each weighing 250 g (Sprague-Daw ley) were divided into study (receiving bleomycin, n=9) and control groups (n=6). Study group were given a intratracheal injection of belomycin (5 mg/kg). Two groups were grown for five weeks at twenty five degrees Celsius, after which lung tissue were examined for morphologic change and SP-A and SP-D levels were measured using Western blot assay with densitometer. RESULTS: Before the study, the average weight of the study group was 286.69+/-14.54 g, and control was 286.69+/-14.54 g. Five weeks later, the average weight of the study group was 347.31.31+/-60.53 g and control group 352.71+/-16.84 g. However, no statistical significance was noted. On light microscopy, the control group exhibited normal findings while widening of lung interstitium and fibrotic change coupled with more prominent inflammatory cell infiltration were noted in the study group. The SP-A level were 15.34+/-1.52 ODU/microgram in the study group and 7.70+/-2.81 ODU/microgram in the control. SP-D level were 3.53+/-1.46 ODU/microgram and 7.51+/-2.33 ODU/microgram in the study and control groups respectively, there was a statistical significance (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The morphologic change after pulmonary fibrosis induced by intratracheal bleomycin injection in white rats can be summarized as chronic inflammatory cell infiltration, fibroblast proliferation, deposition of collagen tissues, and lowering of SP-D level were noted. The increase of SP-A level is subject to further study in the future.
Adult ; Animals ; Bleomycin ; Blotting, Western ; Collagen ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Injury ; Microscopy ; Pulmonary Fibrosis* ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D ; Rats*

OBJECTIVE: Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is one of the serious side effects caused by long-term treatment with neuroleptic medication. Many investigators are trying to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanism of TD, and some candidate genetic polymorphisms have been reported as associated with TD. This study investigated the association of the 5-HT2A receptor promoter gene polymorphisms with TD in Korean schizophrenic subjects. METHODS: The subjects in this study of 5-HT2A receptor gene polymorphisms were 119 schizophrenia patients, 59 with TD and 60 without. TD was evaluated by using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS). Genomic DNA was amplified by PCR and digested with MspI. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the demographic variables of age, sex ratio, duration of illness and duration of antipsychotic drug exposure between the TD and control groups. 1) A-1438G polymorphisms and TD, By comparing the TD and control groups, the -1438A/G allele was found to be associated with a significantly increased risk for TD (x2=5.560, df=1, p=0.018). 2) Three AIMS categories of TD and A-1438G genotype. There were statistically significant differences in the three AIMS categories (x2=6.835, df=2, p=0.033). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the -1438A/G genotype of the 5-HT2A receptor gene is related to the development of TD. The -1438A/G genotypes were associated with significantly higher AIMS orofacial dyskinesia scores. These findings suggest that the 5-HT2A receptor gene is partly associated with susceptibility to TD in patients with chronic schizophrenia.
Alleles ; DNA ; Dyskinesias ; Genotype ; Humans ; Movement Disorders* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A* ; Research Personnel ; Schizophrenia ; Sex Ratio

Transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) is a common surgical complication after kidney transplantation (KTP) and is the cause of allograft dysfunction. TRAS is a potentially curable cause of refractory hypertension and allograft dysfunction which accounts for approximately 1% to 5% of cases of post-transplant hypertension. Acute cellular rejection (ACR) is also common after KTP, which is the main cause of allograft dysfunction. Although the incidence of ACR has declined with the advent of new immunosuppressive drugs, it is still around 15% worldwide. Although each disease is frequently seen individually, seeing both together is rare. A 42-year-old man with end stage renal disease underwent KTP, and the donor was his younger brother. Four months after KTP, his serum creatinine was increased to 2.1 mg/dL, and renal biopsy showed interstitial lymphocytic infiltration and tubulitis. With the diagnosis of acute T-cell mediated rejection, steroid pulsing therapy was started, but it was resisted. Therefore thymoglobulin 60 mg (1 mg/kg/day) was administered for 6 days, but serum creatinine was 1.8 mg/dL. Abdomen magnetic resonance angiography showed TRAS, stenosis at the anastomosis site and lobar artery in the lower pole. Percutaneous transluminal angiography was performed successfully. After balloon angioplasty, the stenotic lesion showed a normal size and blood flow. The patient's renal function returned to normal levels and he is currently being followed up for 9 months.
Abdomen ; Adult ; Allografts ; Angiography ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Arteries ; Biopsy ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Kidney Transplantation ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Renal Artery Obstruction* ; Renal Artery* ; Siblings ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation*

OBJECTIVE: Some candidate gene polymorphisms were reported to be associated with tardive dyskinesia (TD). The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the 5-HT2A receptor gene polymorphisms with TD in Korean schizophrenic subjects. METHOD: Subjects were of 59 schizophrenic patients with TD and 60 schizophrenic patients without TD for studying of 5-HT2A receptor gene polymorphisms. TD was evaluated using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale(AIMS). Genomic DNA was amplified by PCR and digestion with MspI and BsmI. RESULT: There were no statistically significant differences in the demographic variables, such as age, male to female percentage, duration of illnesses and duration of antipsychotic drug exposure between the TD group and control group. 1) T102C polymorphisms and TD Comparing the TD group and control group, the 102T/C allele was associated with a significantly increased risk for TD (chi2=5.560, df=1, p=0.018). 2) Three AIMS categories of TD and T102C genotype. There were statistically significant differences in the three AIMS categories(chi2=6.835, df=2, p=0.033). CONCLUSION: These result suggest 102T/C genotypes of the 5-HT2A receptor gene are related to the development of TD. The 102T/C genotypes were associated with significantly higher AIMS orofacial dyskinesia scores. These findings suggest that the 5-HT2A receptor gene is significantly associated with susceptibility to TD in patients with chronic schizophrenia.
Alleles ; Digestion ; DNA ; Dyskinesias ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Movement Disorders* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A* ; Schizophrenia

Background/Aims: The recent update on the Selecting Therapeutic Targets in Inflammatory Bowel Disease initiative has added normal growth in children as an intermediate target in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. We aimed to investigate factors associated with reaching midparental height (MPH) in patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease in childhood and the adolescent period. Methods: This multicenter retrospective observational study included pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease that had reached adult height. Factors associated with reaching MPH were investigated by logistic regression analyses. Results: A total of 166 patients were included in this study (128 Crohn’s disease and 38 ulcerative colitis). Among them, 54.2% (90/166) had reached their MPH. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that height Z-score at diagnosis and MPH Z-score were independently associated with reaching MPH (odds ratio [OR], 8.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.44 to 17.90;p<0.001 and OR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.24; p<0.001, respectively). According to the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal cutoff level of "height Z-score at diagnosis minus MPH Z-score" that was associated with reaching MPH was –0.01 with an area under the curve of 0.889 (95% CI [0.835 to 0.944], sensitivity 88.9%, specificity 84.2%, positive predictive value 87.0%, negative predictive value 86.5%, p<0.001). Conclusions Height Z-score at diagnosis and MPH Z-score were the only factors associated with reaching MPH. Efforts should be made to restore growth in pediatric patients who present with a negative “height Z-score at diagnosis minus MPH Z-score.”

BACKGROUND: Generalized granuloma annulare (GGA) is a benign skin disorder of an unknown etiology. Though some cases of GGA have been reported, few systemic reviews of the clinical and pathological features of GGA have been performed. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to analyze and correlate the clinical and pathological characteristics of GGA in Korean patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study that included 54 biopsy specimens of Korean GGA patients, and the clinical and pathological features of GGA were reviewed and analyzed for their correlation. RESULTS: The cutaneous lesions could be divided into the annular (24, 44%) and nonannular types (30, 56%), and the lesions were more common in males than in females (29 males and 25 females). The incidence of GGA showed a bimodal age distribution. The number of patients who presented within the first decade was 24 cases (44%), and 24 cases (44%) were over the fifth decade. Eight patients (15%) had systemic diseases. Especially, diabetes mellitus (DM) occurred only in the adult GGA patients over forty years old. The pathological findings showed dermal granulomatous lesions that consisted of either a palisading pattern (28, 52%) or an interstitial pattern (26, 48%). CONCLUSION: In contrast to the previously reported studies, the age of GGA onset showed a bimodal distribution, and GGA was observed more often in males. The prevalence of DM in the GGA affected individuals was higher than that found in the general Korean population. Therefore, it is recommended to perform a work-up for DM in the GGA affected patients who are over forty years old.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Biopsy ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Granuloma ; Granuloma Annulare ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Generalized granuloma annulare (GGA) is a benign skin disorder of an unknown etiology. Though some cases of GGA have been reported, few systemic reviews of the clinical and pathological features of GGA have been performed. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to analyze and correlate the clinical and pathological characteristics of GGA in Korean patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study that included 54 biopsy specimens of Korean GGA patients, and the clinical and pathological features of GGA were reviewed and analyzed for their correlation. RESULTS: The cutaneous lesions could be divided into the annular (24, 44%) and nonannular types (30, 56%), and the lesions were more common in males than in females (29 males and 25 females). The incidence of GGA showed a bimodal age distribution. The number of patients who presented within the first decade was 24 cases (44%), and 24 cases (44%) were over the fifth decade. Eight patients (15%) had systemic diseases. Especially, diabetes mellitus (DM) occurred only in the adult GGA patients over forty years old. The pathological findings showed dermal granulomatous lesions that consisted of either a palisading pattern (28, 52%) or an interstitial pattern (26, 48%). CONCLUSION: In contrast to the previously reported studies, the age of GGA onset showed a bimodal distribution, and GGA was observed more often in males. The prevalence of DM in the GGA affected individuals was higher than that found in the general Korean population. Therefore, it is recommended to perform a work-up for DM in the GGA affected patients who are over forty years old.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Biopsy ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Granuloma ; Granuloma Annulare ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin