Effect of Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells and Amniotic Fluid Cells on the Wound Healing Process in a White Rat Model

BACKGROUND: Amniotic-fluid-derived stem cells and amniocytes have recently been determined to have wound healing effects, but their mechanism is not yet clearly understood. In this study, the effects of amniotic fluid stem cells and amniocytes on wound healing were investigated through animal experiments. METHODS: On the back of Sprague-Dawley rats, four circular full-thickness skin wounds 2 cm in diameter were created. The wounds were classified into the following four types: a control group using Tegaderm disc wound dressings and experimental groups using collagen discs, amniotic fluid stem cell discs, and amniocyte discs. The wounds were assessed through macroscopic histological examination and immunohistochemistry over a period of time. RESULTS: The amniotic fluid stem cell and amniocyte groups showed higher wound healing rates compared with the control group; histologically, the inflammatory cell invasion disappeared more quickly in these groups, and there was more significant angiogenesis. In particular, these groups had significant promotion of epithelial cell reproduction, collagen fiber formation, and angiogenesis during the initial 10 days of the wound healing process. The potency of transforming growth factor-beta and fibronectin in the experimental group was much greater than that in the control group in the early stage of the wound healing process. In later stages, however, no significant difference was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The amniotic fluid stem cells and amniocytes were confirmed to have accelerated the inflammatory stage to contribute to an enhanced cure rate and shortened wound healing period. Therefore, they hold promise as wound treatment agents.

Correction of Problematic Hypospadias with Dartos Fascia-Reinforced Flap and Slanted Incision of Fistula

BACKGROUND: Hypospadias is the most common congenital malformation of the male urinary tract, wherein the urethral opening is located proximal to the normal site. Tubularized incised-plate urethroplasty reconstruction, and its efficacy, remains controversial due to the high recurrence rate. This study aimed to evaluate the results of dartos fascia-reinforced flap surgery in hypospadias patients with previous operative complications. METHODS: Nine patients (mean age, 12 years) who had previous one- or two-stage repair with TIP urethroplasty and suffered from urethrocutaneous fistulas or fissures as complications, underwent dartos fascia-reinforced flap surgery in our clinic between January 2010 and December 2012. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 6 months. RESULTS: Among the 9 patients, 7 had complete correction. In all the patients, the maximum uroflow angle was >45degrees. No patient complained of an unnatural urinating position. The patients and parents gave very high satisfaction scores (4.7 points) with regard to the appearance of the outer genitalia. CONCLUSION: The dartos fascia-reinforced flap could be a useful and reliable option for complications of hypospadias repair or fissure with the prepuce preserved, given that histological aspects vary and that the possibility of recurrence in the glanular region is high.

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: Two Case Reports

Primary sclerosing cholangitis, a chronic cholestatic liver disease, is uncommon and is characterized byinflammation and fibrosis of the bile ducts. It frequently occurs in association with ulcerative colitis. Wedescribe two cases of primary sclerosing cholangitis in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Efficacy of Renal Artery Embolization with 50% Acetic Acid in Rabbits, and Pathologic Findings

PURPOSE: To evaluate the embolic effect and pathologic change in the kidney after infusion of 50% acetic acidin the renal artery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five kidneys were embolized with 50% acetic acid mixed with saline(group A) and five were embolized with 50% acetic acid mixed with contrast medium (group B). Four rabbits(2 fromgroup A and 2 from group B) were sacrificed during the first day and the remaining six, 28 days afterembolization. To determine the effect of embolization and pathologic findings, the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Complete occlusion of the renal artery was observed in both groups; histologic findings indicatingtubular necrosis and blood clots within the renal artery were noted one day after embolization. After four weeks,complete necrosis of the renal arterial wall and tubular cells had occurred. The procedures required forembolization were easier in group B because the extent of embolization could be controlled by fluoroscopy. CONCLUSION: At 50% dilution after mixing with contrast medium, the embolie effect of acetic acid isperfect;because the embolic material is visualised the procedure was easier to control than embolization withalcohol. acetic acid can, threrfore, be used as an effective embolic agent in renal artery embolization.

Preoperative Tract Dilatation for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to understand the principle of percutaneous nephrolithotomy(PNL), toincrease its success rate, and to base the radiologic approach on preoperative interventional tract dilatation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients(male, 19, female, 7) with staghorn or pelviocalyceal calculi who hadundergone PNL were included in this study. After percutaneous nephrostomy(PCN) was performed in each patient, thetract was dilated to 30F with Amplatz dilators using coaxial techniques or a 30F, 10cm high-pressure tractdilatation balloon. One day before the calculi were fragmented and removed by PNL, a 30F Amplatz sheath wasinserted under local anesthesia. The time required for tract dilatation, complications, and surgery was analyzed. RESULTS: Percutaneous tract dilatation were successful in all patients, and forceps, a nephrolithotome and anephroscope were successfully introduced into the pelvocalyceal system. The average procedure time was 19.5minutes ; a double J stent was replaced in the pelvocalyceal system of 13 of 26 patients (50%) ; because ofimproper catheter direction or/and bleeding, the Amplatz sheath was replaced in three. After PNL, complicationsinvolving renal hematoma occurred in one patient. This did not affect the patient's prognosis, however. CONCLUSION:Owing to its short procedure time and low complication rate, interventional preoperative tract dilatation forPNL is thought to be an effective technique for patients with staghorn or pelvocalceal calculi.

The Utility of MR Imaging of the Shoulder Joint: Comparison of the MR Imaging between Conventional MR Imagingand Arthrographic MR Imaging

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of MRI of the shoulder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January andJune 1997, shoulder MRI and arthroscopy were performed in a total of 48 patients with shoulder pain (n=30) orshoulder instability (n=18). Forty-five were males and three were females; their ages ranged from 16 to 67 (mean32.5) years. The period between shoulder MRI and arthroscopy was between one and 390 (mean, 42.2) days. Twenty-sixpatents underwent MR arthrography (AMR), and 22 conventional MRI(CMR). Each image was analyzed for rotator cuffinjury, glenoid labral injury, SLAP lesion, and biceps tendon injury. RESULTS: On arthroscopy, one disease wasfound in 34 patients, two were found in six, three diseases were found in seven, and one patient had fourdiseases. Arthroscopic diagnosis was as follows: rotator cuff injury, 29 ; SLAP lesion, 12 ; glenoid labralinjury, 10 ; biceps tendon injury, 4 ; subacromial bursitis, 2 ; chronic synovitis, 1 ; adhesive capsulitis, 1 ;superior glenohumeral ligament injury, 1 ; normal, 1. For rotator cuff injury, the sensitivity of MRI was 65.5%and specificity was 93.0% (AMR : 66.7%, 95.8%, CMR : 65.2%, 86.4%). For SLAP lesion, sensitivity was 58.3% andspecificity was 97.2% (AMR : 66.7%, 100%, CMR : 50%, 93.8%) ; for glenoid labral injury, sensitivity was 80.0% andspecificity was 89.5% (AMR : 85.7%, 84.2%, CMR : 66.7%, 94.7%), and for biceps tendon injury, the false negativerate was 100%. CONCLUSION: In cases involving glenoid labral injury, the diagnostic accuracy of shoulder MRI wasrelatively high ; in rotator cuff injury and SLAP lesion, however, diagnosis was limited, and in biceps tendoninjury was difficult. We suggest, however, that MR arthrography has certain diagnostic advantages overconventional MRI.

Radiologic Findings of Annular Pancreas Divisum: A Case Report

Annular pancreas divisum is a very rare congenital anomaly involving the coexistence of an annular pancreas and pancreatic divisum in one pancreas, and showing characteristic radiologic findings of ring-like pancreatic tissue surrounding the second portion of the duodenum and no evidence of connection between ventral and dorsalductal systems. We described the radiologic findings of annular pancreas divisum, diagnosed by hypotonic duodenography, CT and ERCP.

The Management of Varicocele by Microdissection of the Spermatic Cord via a Low Inguinal Approach (Goldstein procedure =Modified Marmar Procedure) / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Several different techniques have been utilized for the correction of a varicocele. Urologists have operated by high ligation of the internal spermatic veins via an inguinal or retroperitoneal approach. Radiologists have embolized or sclerosed these veins by percutaneous venography. Recently, microsurgeons have diverted the internal spermatic veins. Although classical procedures for the varicocele have been used successfully to eliminate retrograde blood flow, improved techniques seen desirable because a growing list of unwanted effects have been cited in associations with these procedures. In this report, we describe a new technique(Goldstein microsurgical technique) for the management of varicoceles which combines microdissection of the cord, ligation of all the tributaries of internal spermatic vein. complete control of collateral and small cross collateral veins except the vasal vein via a low inguinal approach.

A Case of Primary Adenocarcinoma of the Female Urethra / 대한비뇨기과학회지

We report a case of primary adenocarcinoma of the urethra in 62 years old female. Primary carcinoma of the female urethra is an uncommon malignancy that accounts for less than 0.02 per cent of all cancers occurring in women. Adenocarcinoma is rare in the literature. Whereas squamous cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma, which comprise the majority of urethral malignancies, arise form the squamous or epithelial cells lining the urethra, adenocarcinoma arises form the periurethral glands.

A Papillary Adeno-carcinoma of the Renal Pelvis / 대한비뇨기과학회지

A papillary adeno-carcinoma of the renal pelvis is very rare tumor and mostly diagnosed by histopathologic findings. A 10-years-old female was admitted to Fatima Hospital with Rt. flank pain and intermittent gross hematuria.Herein, we report a case of papillary adeno-carcinoma of the renal pelvis.