Relationship between Low Muscle Strength, and Protein Intake: A Preliminary Study of Elderly Patients with Hip Fracture

Background@#The purpose of the present study was to assess the daily protein uptake and its relationship with sarcopenia, as defined by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS), among elderly patients with hip fractures. @*Methods@#Forty-seven elderly patients with hip fractures were enrolled in this retrospective observational study. The main outcome measures included protein uptake, muscle mass, and grip strength for sarcopenia in elderly patients. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to AWGS. Wholebody densitometry was used to measure skeletal muscle mass, and muscle strength was evaluated using handgrip testing. @*Results@#Of 47 patients with hip fractures (12 men and 35 women), 37 (79%) patients exhibited insufficient protein intake (range, 0.01-0.588 g/kg/day), and 10 (21%) patients exhibited excessive protein intake (range, 1.215-2.121 g/kg/day). The mean daily protein intake was 56.5 g (range, 7.2–136.0 g). Prevalence of low muscle strength (handgrip strength <18 kg in women and <26 kg in men) was detected in 13 (37%) women and 8 (67%) men (P=0.076). Sarcopenia (lower muscle mass and lower muscle strength) was detected in 9 (26%) women and 6 (50%) men (P=0.119). Although lower protein intake was marginally associated with sarcopenia (P=0.189), it was significantly associated with lower grip strength (P=0.042). @*Conclusions@#The present study demonstrated that insufficient protein intake in elderly patients with hip fractures was common, and lower protein intake was significantly associated with lower muscle strength.

Effect of Finasteride on Free/Total Serum PSA Ratio in Patients with Benign Prostate Hyperplasia / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: Finasteride, a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, has recently been used as a treatment for men with benign prostate hyperplasia(BPH). This study was undertaken to determine whether free-to-total(f/t) PSA ratio changed during the finasteride therapy in patient with BPH and whether it is possible to use this new discriminant ratio after prolonged treatment with finasteride. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised 31 men (mean age 66 years) with finasteride therapy for BPH. Blood samples were taken before and after 3-13months of therapy with finasteride and f/t PSA ratio is determined using radioimmunometric assay. RESULTS: Although the mean t-PSA, f-PSA are significantly decreased after the treatment with finasteride, f/t PSA ratio remained unchanged. The duration of treatment and the level of initial t-PSA did not affect the f/t PSA ratio. CONCLUSIONS: The f/t PSA ratio is unchanged among the patients with finasteride therapy for BPH.

The Efficacy of 99mTc-DMSA SPECT in Diagnosis of Renal Scarringn of Vesicoureteral Reflux in Children / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: The diagnosis of renal scarring is very important for the pediatric patient because it has been associated with the later development of hypertension, renal failure, and end-stage kidney disease. Recent studies indicate that the sensitivity and specificity of the99mTc-DMSA single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) is better than IVP, USG, and 99mTC-DMSA Planar ThG Purpose Of this Study iS tO Compare 2 types Of 9%nTh DMSA renal scan(planar and SPECT) and IVP/USG in the diagnosis of renal scars. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We reviewed retrospectively the data of 49 children(72 renal units) with vesicoureteral reflux(VUR) who underwent renal cortical imaging with IVP/USG from January 1987 to August 1996. Patient ages ranged from 3 months to 14 years with a mean age 3.7 years. There were 17 boys and 12 girls(44 venal units) with 99mTc-DMSA planar with IVP/USG, and 12 boys and 8 girls(28 renal units) with 99mTc-DMSA SPECT with IVP/USG. RESULTS: The 99mTc-DMSA planar imaging identified 94.7% sensitivities while 99mTC-DMSA SPECT imaging identified 96.3% Sensitivities. And the IVP/USG identified 75.3% sensitivities. CONCLUSIONS: Recently, the 99mTc-DMSA renal scan has replaced IVP/USG in detecting renal scarring. And we show that 99mTc-DMSA SPECT studies are superior to IVP/USG, 99mTc-DMSA planar studies in detecting renal scarring. We believe that the role of 99mTc-DMSA SPECT will become increasingly important in detecting renal scarring of VUR.

Percutaneous Embolization of the Internal Spermatic Vein for the Treatment of Childhood and Adolescent Varicocele / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Proper management of childhood and adolescent varicocele remains still controversial. In general, all methods for varicocele ablation for adults are available and include open surgical ligation, laparoscopic ligation, or percutaneous ablation. We evaluated the usefulness of percutaneous embolization of internal spermatic vein in boys with varicocele. Between February 1988 to May 1996, 48 boys of 53 varicoceles underwent percut aneous embolization. In 49 cases, the embolization were technically possible and in the other 4 cases, we could not access the internal spermatic vein because of vasospasm and venous abnormality. The results were successful in 40 cases (81.6%) and failed in 9 cases (18.4%), including 4 (8.2%) of persistent and 5 (10.2%) of recurred cases. There were no major complications except 3 cases of extravasation of contrast material. Percutaneous embolization may be recommended as a primary treatment for childhood and adolescent varicocele.

A Case of Multilocular Cystic Nephroma in Child / 대한비뇨기과학회지

We present a case of 15 months old male with Multilocular cystic nephroma (MLCN) which contains fibroblast, smooth muscles, skeletal muscles and well differentiated tubular structure in the septa without evidence of blastemal or embryonal elements. There is no evidence of metastasis and local recurrence after post-op 2 years.