PURPOSE: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a general marker for inflammation and it has been associated with prostate cancer. We hypothesized that a correlation may exist between CRP and prostate cancer in patients undergoing transrectal biopsy of the prostate because of rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2009 to March 2012, we retrospectively reviewed 710 patients who visited our urology department and were diagnosed as having a PSA value over 4.0 ng/mL. Patients with acute infections, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, asthma, chronic lung disease, myocardial infarction, or apoplexy and those who had taken nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were exempted from the research because these variables could have impacted CRP. After we applied the exclusion criteria, we selected 63 patients with prostate cancer and 140 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). RESULTS: A total of 203 patients were observed: 140 patients had BPH, and 63 patients had prostate cancer. Prostate cancer patients were divided into two groups by tumor-node-metastasis classification. The patients below T2 were group A, and those above T3 were group B. The natural logarithm of C-reactive protein (lnCRP) differed between the BPH group and the prostate cancer group. The lnCRP also differed between the BPH group and prostate cancer groups A and B (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The serum CRP level of the prostate cancer group was higher than that of the BPH group. Inflammation may be correlated with prostate cancer according to the serum CRP level.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Asthma ; Biopsy ; C-Reactive Protein ; Gout ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lung Diseases ; Myocardial Infarction ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke ; Urology

PURPOSE: Vulvodynia is characterized by chronic vulvar pain caused by sexual intercourse and often results in female sexual dysfunction. Because the causes of vulvodynia are not clear, many patients do not receive optimal treatment. Recently, gabapentin and botulinum toxin A have both been shown to be effective treatments for vulvodynia. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical outcomes of botulinum toxin A and gabapentin treatment for chronic pain in women with this condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-three women with vulvar pain were administered either gabapentin (n=62) or botulinum toxin A (n=11) injections. Effectiveness was measured by use of a visual analogue scale (VAS). We analyzed the treatment method, treatment duration, success of treatment, and side effects or adverse reactions. RESULTS: Pain levels in both groups significantly decreased after treatment. In the gabapentin group, the VAS score decreased from 8.6 before treatment to 3.2 after treatment (p<0.001). The VAS score in the botulinum toxin A group was reduced from 8.1 to 2.5 (p<0.001). Side effects for both therapies were few and subsided with treatment with general antibiotics and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Gabapentin and botulinum toxin A are safe and effective treatments for vulvodynia. This condition can cause sexual dysfunction and affect quality of life. However, with proper management, satisfactory outcomes for women with vulvodynia can be achieved.
Amines ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Botulinum Toxins ; Chronic Pain ; Coitus ; Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids ; Dyspareunia ; Female ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Vulvodynia

BACKGROUND: Hydromorphone, a derivative of morphine, has the same actions and uses as morphine, has about eight times more potency on a milligram basis. Hydromorphone is used for the relief of moderate to severe pain. There has been no report in Korea on patient controlled analgesia (PCA) using hydromorphone. Here, the efficacy and incidence of side effects of PCA, with hydromorphone, were investigated. METHODS: 68 patients scheduled for spinal, urological, gynecological and general surgery were enrolled. Patients received standardized general anesthesia, with the PCA initiated at the end of surgery. Parameters for PCA were a 0.1 mg bolus and 0.05 mg/hr infusion of hydromorphone, with a 10 min lockout interval. A verbal rating scale (1: none, 2: very mild, 3: mild, 4: moderate, 5: severe) of pain, nausea (mild, moderate, severe), vomiting, dizziness and somnolence were assessed at 6, 12, 24 hr postoperatively. The amount of hydromorphone used and the requirements for symptomatic relief were also recorded. RESULTS: The mean pain scores were 3.5+/-0.8, 2.9+/-0.8 and 2.5+/-0.7, and the amounts of hydromorphone delivered were 1.0+/-0.1, 1.8+/-1.0 and 2.7+/-1.3 mg, 6, 12 and 24 hr postoperatively, respectively. The incidence of nausea, vomiting, dizziness and somnolence were 17.6, 4.4, 8.8 and 1.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous PCA, with hydromorphone, was effective in controlling postoperative pain, with fewer eide effects than morphine, as reported in the literature.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled* ; Anesthesia, General ; Dizziness ; Humans ; Hydromorphone* ; Incidence* ; Korea ; Morphine ; Nausea ; Pain, Postoperative ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Vomiting