No abstract available.
Animals ; Flowmeters* ; Magnets* ; Male ; Models, Animal* ; Penile Erection* ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Clomipramine* ; Preoptic Area* ; Rats* ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors* ; Serotonin*

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether radial rigidity measured using RigiScan(R) represents the intracorporeal pressure effectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1998 to May 1999, total of 23 patients with erectile dysfunction were evaluated by RigiScan(R) and duplex ultrasonography after the intracorporeal injection of prostaglandin E1. Peak systolic velocity and end diastolic velocity were measured by duplex ultrasonography and then the resistance index was calculated as (peak systolic velocity-end diastolic velocity)/(peak systolic velocity). Radial rigidity of penile tip and base was measured by RigiScanR . The results were analyzed statistically by PC-SPSS version 7.5. RESULTS: There were statistically significant correlations between radial rigidity of penile tip and base and the resistance index by Spearman's correlation analysis, respectively (r=0.680, p<0.001)(r=0.703, p<0.001). When radial rigidity of penile tip and base exceeded 60% of maximum, radial rigidity of penile tip and base again correlated well with the resistance index, respectively (r=0.659, p=0.020)(r=0.759, p=0.011). Based on clinically determined degree of erection, radial rigidity of penile tip and base represented the intracorporeal pressure effectively. CONCLUSIONS: Radial rigidity measured by RigiScan(R) represents the intracorporeal pressure effectively.
Alprostadil* ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Male ; Ultrasonography

Transrectal Ultrasonography (TRUS) easily provides an accurate assessment of the seminal tract. In Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) of the seminal tract, the anatomic relationships are more clearly seen and the multiplanar imaging is available, so a more definitive diagnosis can be achieved. Although TRUS and MRI have been studied extensively, the findings of TRUS have not been compared with those of MRI. We studied 29 patients who were assessed with TRUS and MRI simultaneously due to disease of the seminal tract. The findings of cystic disease were coincident between TRUS and MRI. But the small size Mullerian duct cysts were not found in TRUS but were found in MRI. Hemorrhage of the ejaculatory duct and seminal vesicle, thickened ampulla portion of vas deferens were found only in MRI. Ejaculatory duct and seminal vesicle calcification were not easily found in TRUS due to their small size. The findings of seminal vesicle atrophy, dilatation and prostatic calcification between TRUS and MRI were discrepant. In conclusion, MRI is more helpful than TRUS in the diagnosis of small Mullerian duct cyst, small ejaculatory duct calculi, small seminal vesicle calculi, hemorrhage of ejaculatory duct and seminal vesicle and thickened ampulla portion of vas eferens.
Atrophy ; Calculi ; Diagnosis* ; Dilatation ; Ejaculatory Ducts ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Seminal Vesicles ; Ultrasonography* ; Vas Deferens

No abstract available.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Hydronephrosis*

No abstract available.
Stroke*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Erectile Dysfunction/therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Stem Cell Transplantation/*methods ; Urologic Diseases/*therapy ; Urology/methods/trends

PURPOSE: To determine whether the preoperative residual urine fraction(RF) correlates with the change in the maximal flow rate(Qmax) in patients treated for benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 1995 to June 1999, 81 men aged 54 to 82 years (mean: 65.4 +/- 6.7 years) with BPH were examined with Qmax and residual volume using uroflometry and ultrasonography, respectively, before and after transurethral resection of the prostate. The RF was defined as the postvoiding residual/premicturition volume x100. Statistical analysis was performed by simple linear regression using SPSS. RESULTS: The magnitude of improvement in Qmax postoperatively was greatest in patients who had preoperative Qmax < 12mL/sec and RF > 25, followed by Qmax < 12mL/sec and RF < 25, Qmax > 12mL/sec and RF > 25, and Qmax > 12mL/sec and RF < 25. The extent of improvement in Qmax in patients had a value < 12mL/sec was significantly better than that in patients who had a value > 12mL/sec. Among patients who had a Qmax > 12mL/sec preoperatively, the improvement in those who had an RF > 25 was significant better than that in patients who had an RF < 25. CONCLUSION: We suggest that RF and Qmax may have the value as indicator for surgery of benign prostatic hyperplasia preoperatively. The higher RF and Qmax, the poorer postoperative Qmax are anticipates in the patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Residual Volume ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate* ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: hear stress (SS) and cyclic strain (CS) influence the expression of membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) in microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs). It is known that changes in the level of Sp1 phosphorylation are important for MT1-MMP expression following SS and CS. However, the exact mechanism underlying this process is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of PKCzeta on serine phosphorylation and activation of Sp1 in response to SS and CS. METHOD: MVECs were exposed to SS or CS for up to 8 hours with or without PKCzeta inhibitors. The activity and phosphorylation of Sp1 were assessed by Western blot analysis and immunoprecipitation. MT1-MMP protein expression was assessed by Western blot analysis. RESULT: PKCzeta was phosphorylated and activated under SS, whereas no significant changes were noted under CS. SS increased Sp1 phosphorylation in a time-dependent manner, but no changes in the Sp1 phosphorylation were observed when the MVECs were pretreated with the PKCzeta inhibitors. By contrast, MVECs exposed to CS in the presence or absence of PKCzeta inhibitors showed no change in the phosphorylation of Sp1. SS decreased MT1-MMP protein expression in a time-dependent manner, but in the presence of PKCzeta inhibitors, MT1-MMP expression was not changed compared with the static levels after SS. CS increases MT1-MMP expression in a time-dependent manner. Similar expression was observed when the cells were pretreated with PKCzeta inhibitors under CS. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that the increased affinity of Sp1 for the MT1-MMP's promoter site occurs because of PKCzeta induced phosphorylation of Sp1 in response to SS.
Blotting, Western ; Endothelial Cells* ; Immunoprecipitation ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 14* ; Membranes ; Phosphorylation ; Serine

PURPOSE: It is known that alpha-2 receptor is found at the presynaptic serotonergic nervous system and a consequence of increased activation of alpha-2 receptor decreases the serotonin release. So Alpha-2 blockers may have the effect on the release of serotonin. The major serotonergic innervation is found at the hippocampus. This study was performed to investigate the effect of the alpha-2 receptor blocker to serotonin release in rat hippocampus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The hippocampus from the male rat brain was sliced. After 30 minutes preincubation in the normal buffer, the slices were incubated for 20 minutes in a buffer containing 0.1 microM[3H]5-HT for uptake, and washed. After administration of alpha 2 receptor blockers, yohimbine (10-5M), the release of [3H]5-HT into the buffer was measured, the radioactivities in each buffer and the tissue were counted and the results were expressed as a percentage of the total activity. The value of released [3H]5-HT was expressed as percent of the value at 50 minutes when a steady state of [3H]5-HT release was obtained. RESULTS: After adminstration of yohimbine (10-5M), the values(mean+/-SE, %) were 147.5+/-9.2 at 60 minutes and 143.8+/-7.3 at 70 minutes compared to the values of control group, 96.6+/-1.9 at 60 minutes and 89.6+/-2.3 at 70 minutes. The release was increased significantly after adminstration of yohimbine. CONCLUSIONS: Alpha-2 receptor blockers increased the release of serotonin. It is suggested that the consideration of the increase of serotonin release by alpha-2 receptor blockers may be helpful to understand the effect of serotonin on sexual function.
Animals ; Brain ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Male ; Nervous System ; Radioactivity ; Rats* ; Serotonin* ; Yohimbine