Laparoscopic Excision of a Congenital Seminal Vesicle Cyst and Coexisting Ipsilateral Renal Agenesis / 대한남성과학회지

Seminal vesicle cyst (SVC) with ipsilateral renal agenesis is a rare congenital anomaly. When the patient is symptomatic, surgical treatment may be necessary. The open surgical approach, traditionally considered the definite form of treatment, has been associated with a high rate of morbidity. The laparoscopic approach for the management of SVCs has recently been described. A 18-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of dysuria and perineal pain. The diagnostic evaluation revealed a 45x35x48 mm sized left seminal vesicle cyst. In addition, he had a solitary, right, functioning kidney, with left renal agenesis. Transperitoneal laparoscopic excision of the cyst was performed successfully. The patient was discharged from the hospital on the fourth postoperative day and did not present with any complaints or complications.

Arterial Injury Associated with Tension-Free Vaginal Tapes-SECUR Procedure Successfully Treated by Radiological Embolization / 대한배뇨장애요실금학회지

Various postoperative complications have been reported after the use of tension-free vaginal tapes (TVT). The transobturator approach was introduced to minimize the potential complications. The next generation of recently introduced TVT-SECUR is intended to minimize the incidence of complications. Herein we report a case of internal pudendal artery injury sustained during this procedure that was successfully treated by radiological embolization. Angiography with vessel embolization, when available, should be considered when the arterial injury is suspected.

Diagnosing Acute Pyelonephritis with CT, (99m)Tc-DMSA SPECT, and Doppler Ultrasound: A Comparative Study

PURPOSE: With growing interest in early imaging, the aim of our study was to define the most practical modality for routine clinical use for the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN). We compared the sensitivity of enhanced computerized tomography (CT), dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy, and Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) by using clinical findings as the standard of reference. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 207 APN patients (191 women, 16 men; mean age, 49.4 years; range, 17-88 years) were enrolled in this study. All the patients underwent imaging modalities during hospitalization. SPECT images were obtained 4 hours after injection of (99m)Tc-DMSA. Transverse and coronary CT images were obtained before and after injection of the contrast agent. DUS was performed in the longitudinal, transverse, and coronal planes. All the images were read independently by a single radiologist and a nuclear medicine specialist. The sensitivity of each modality for detecting APN was compared. RESULTS: CT showed significantly superior sensitivity compared with that of DUS (81.0% vs. 33.3%, respectively, n=147). DMSA scintigraphy also showed significantly superior sensitivity compared with that of DUS (74.7% vs. 33.3%, respectively, n=150). Compared with DMSA scintigraphy, CT showed superior sensitivity, but the difference was not statistically significant (81.0% vs. 74.8%, respectively, n=147, p=0.163). CONCLUSIONS: For cases of clinically suspected APN, CT and DMSA scintigraphy appear to be equally sensitive and reliable for detecting APN, although CT is more practical in various fields. DUS was significantly less sensitive.

Two Cases of Bacteremia Caused by Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Recent reports have described an increasing incidence of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) in patients who do not exhibit established risk factors for healthcare exposure. We report two cases of CA-MRSA bacteremia complicated by vertebral osteomyelitis. Both of CA-MRSA isolates were resistant to beta-lactam agents, but susceptible to clindamycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline. Both isolates carried staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type IVA, and were identified as sequence type (ST) 72 by mlultilocus sequence typing (MLST). However, the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene was not identified.

Two Cases of Bacteremia Caused by Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Recent reports have described an increasing incidence of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) in patients who do not exhibit established risk factors for healthcare exposure. We report two cases of CA-MRSA bacteremia complicated by vertebral osteomyelitis. Both of CA-MRSA isolates were resistant to beta-lactam agents, but susceptible to clindamycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline. Both isolates carried staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type IVA, and were identified as sequence type (ST) 72 by mlultilocus sequence typing (MLST). However, the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene was not identified.

Short & Long-term Repopulating Capacity of Cord Blood Cells That Are Stored Overnight before Cryopreservation / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is generally stored overnight and it undergoes a CD34 positive selection process the next day for reducing the cost and due to the convenience. We intended to determine whether overnight storage of cord blood cells affects the short and long-term repopulating capacity. METHODS: Five individuals' UCB samples were analyzed by colony assay, apoptotic cell counts and long term bone marrow culture. All the samples were divided to four groups, which were the fresh group (immediate use of harvest), the overnight storage group (overnight storage at room temperature after harvest), the immediate cryopreservation group (immediate cryopreservation after harvest) and the overnight cryo group (cryopreservaton after overnight storage at room temperature after harvest). RESULTS: The number of colony forming units-granulocyte macrophage (CFU-GM) was 116.2+/-20.1 in the fresh group and 90.8+/-15.8 in the overnight storage group (P=0.07). The number of CFUs-GM was similar between the immediate and overnight cryo groups (P=0.79). The immediate cryo group showed a significantly lower number of CFUs-GM as compared to that of the fresh group (P=0.03). The apoptotic cells were detected at 21+/-6.8% in the fresh group and this was 24.2+/-2.4% in the overnight storage group (P=0.32), and this was similar between immediate and overnight cryo groups (P=0.80). The fresh group had a significantly lower number of apoptotic cells compared to that of the immediate cryo group (P=0.02). After long term stromal-based culture, the mean production of CFU-GM colonies was similar between all the groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: These results support the continue use of overnight storage of UCB before cryopreservation as a convenient, cost reducing measure.

A Case of Churg-Strauss Syndrome with Interstinal Perforation / 결핵및호흡기질환

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) or allergic granulomatous angiitis is a rare syndrome that is characterized by hypereosinophilic systemic necrotizing vasculitis affecting small- to medium-sized arteries and veins. In general, it occurs in individuals with pre-existing allergic asthma. When CSS appears in patients, it has the following characteristics: eosinophilia of more than 10% in peripheral blood, paranasal sinusitis, pulmonary infiltrates, histological proof of vasculitis with extravascular eosinophils, and mononeuritis multiplex or polyneuropathy. Therapeutic trials dedicated to Churg-Strauss syndrome have been limited due to the rarity of this disorder and the difficulty in making a histological diagnosis. Proper treatment of patients with CSS is not widely known. In this case study, we report on our experience with an unusual patient case, characterized by purpura and a perforation of the small intestine after inadequate steroid therapy.

Clinical Features of Prostate Cancer Detected on Initial and Repeated Biopsy / 대한남성과학회지

Purpose: To determine the clinical differences between prostate cancer detected on initial biopsy and repeated biopsy Materials and Methods: Between January 2003 and December 2006, 67 patients were evaluated in this study who were diagnosed prostate cancer by transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsies and their prostate specific antigen (PSA) were below 20 ng/ml and clinical stages were less than T2. Among 67 patients, 43 patients were diagnosed at the first biopsies (group A) and others were diagnosed at the repeate biopsies (group B). We retrospectively characterized differences in clinical features such as age, digital rectal examination (DRE), prostate volume, the number of biopsy core, rate of positive core, PSA, % free PSA, Gleason score and rate of insignificant cancer. Results: There were no significant differences in age, PSA, % free PSA, rate of insignificant cancer between groups A and B. However, positive rate of DRE, prostate volume and rate of patients whose PSA were 7 ng/ml or higher in group A were significantly higher than those in group B. Despite the number of biopsy core was higher in group A, there were no differences in the number of positive biopsy core. Conclusions: Compared to the patients who were diagnosed as prostate cancer in the initial biopsies, prostate volume, positive rate of DRE and rate of Gleason score 7 or more were significantly lower in repeated biopsy group. From now on we are planning to include more patients and compare these characteristics of biopsies with the final pathological features after radical prostatectomy.

The Difference of Pelvic Floor with Dynamic MRI before and after Tension Free Vaginal Tape Procedure in Female Stress Urinary Incontinence

PURPOSE: Tension-free vaginal tape(TVT) procedure is an effective surgical procedure for the treatment of female urinary stress incontinence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes of pelvic floor MR imaging findings after tension-free vaginal tape procedure on stress urinary incontinent women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty two women with complaint of stress urinary incontinence(mean age, 56 years; age range 32~73 years) were included in this study. Pelvic floor MR imaging were performed preoperatively and one month after surgery. The position of the bladder neck in relation to the pubococcygeal line, the position of the bladder neck in relation to a perpendicular line through the posterior edge of symphysis pubis, the angle of urethral inclination were measured. We also measured the position of anterior wall of the urethra in relation to posterior edge of the symphysis pubis and cystocele during resting and pelvic straining and thickness of the anterior wall. We compared all parameters between resting and stress. RESULTS: Twenty nine patients(91%) had normal voiding pattern after TVT procedure. three patients(9%) had voiding difficulty. The position and mobility of the bladder neck during straining showed significant improvement after surgery(p<0.01). During straining, the length between the urethra and the inferior edge of the pubic symphysis with mid-urethra angulation was shorten in twenty eight patients(88%). There is no significant difference among three groups in all parameters. However, 3 patients with voiding difficulty had the significant high bladder neck and moderate cystocele. CONCLUSION: The TVT procedure provides decrease of urethral hypermobility and increase of mid-urethral angulation. MR imaging demonstrate well that urinary continence after surgery is most probably achieved by creating a dynamic mid-urethral knee angulation by which the urethra is closed at stress. Postoperative voiding difficulty may be related to remaining cystocele and high bladder neck.

The Outcome and Satisfaction of Patients with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms/Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia following Transurethral Resection of the Prostate according to Urodynamic Obstruction and the Bladder Function / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: We compared the clinical and urodynamic findings of patients suffering with lower urinary tract symptoms(LUTS)/benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) and who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate, and we tried to determine the effect of urodynamical obstruction and the bladder function on the result of this operation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 101 patients with LUTS/BPH were categorized in four groups based on the findings of the preoperative urodynamic study: 15(14.8%) patients without bladder outlet obstruction[(BOO(-)], 50 (49.5%), patients with BOO[(BOO(+)], 12 patients(11.8%) with BOO and with detrusor underactivity(BOO+DU), and 24 patients(23.7%) with BOO and with detrusor overactivity(BOO+DO). The outcomes and satisfaction were analyzed by the changes of the International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS) and the quality of life(QoL) index before and after transurethral resection of the prostate(TURP), respectively. RESULTS: The Qmax was significantly high and residual urine was significantly low in group BOO(-). The PdetQmax was significantly high in group BOO(+) and also in the BOO+DO group. In group BOO(-), the decrease of the total IPSS was smaller than that noted in the other groups. There were significant decreases of the IPSS after TURP in groups BOO (+), BOO+DU and BOO+DO each voiding and storage subscore were decreased,but in group BOO+DO, the improvement was not as much as that in the other groups. The QoL was improved significantly in group BOO compared to the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Performing urodynamics preoperatively helps to predict the degree of symptom relief, and a higherbaseline BOO positively predicts the postoperative improvement of the IPSS and the QoL. The outcome of the BOO+DU group was satisfactory, but storage symptoms still existed for the BOO+DO group.

A Fibrotic Nodule in the Corpus Cavernosum / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Fibrotic lesions occurring in the corpus cavernosum are usually cases of Peyronie's disease that originate from the tunica albuginea, or they are the fibrotic result of inflammatory processes. The lesion involving the corpus cavernosum, but not tunica albuginea is rare. We present here a case of fibrotic nodule arising in the corpus cavernosum with the sonographic and magnetic resonance imaging features. A 38-year-old man complained a small nodular mass in the left corpus cavernosum at the level of penoscrotal junction without abnormal curvature of the organ. We performed ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging to determine exactly what the lesion was. The lesion was removed and it was pathologically found to be a localized fibrotic nodule of the corpus cavernosum with some narrow-channeled vascular structures.

A Case of Leber's Hereditary Optic Nouropathy Showing 11778 Point Mutation of Mitochondrial DNA / 영남의대학술지

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy(LHON) is an optic nerve disease that causes blindness and is associated with maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA(mt DNA) mutations. The most common mitochondrial DNA mutation among LHON patients is a point mutation at the nucleotide 11778 in the subunit 4 of complex I. In one 45-year old male LHON patient with bilateral optic neuropathy, we investigated the presence of a point mutation of mitochondrial DNA and identified a single guanine to adenine transition mutation in the mitochondrial DNA at nucleotide point 11778.

A case of primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome showing vegetation on the mitral valve through echocardiography / 영남의대학술지

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome(APS) is a well-known clinical syndrome characterized by recurrent arterial or venous thromboses, recurrent fetal loss, thrombocytopenia, together with high titers of sustained anticardiolipin antibody(aCL) or lupus anticoagulant(LA). Although systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) and APS may coexist, a high proportion of patients manifesting the APS do not suffer from classical lupus or other connective tissue disease. The patient has been defined as having a primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. We experienced one case of primary APS with recurrent fetal loss, recurrent cerebral infarctions, positive anticardiolipin antibody IgG and fluttering vegetation on the mitral valve, without other connective tissue diseases including SLE. Forty-three old female had 2 out of 11 criteria for the diagnosis of SLE, such as thrombocytopenia and positive antinuclear antibody, but did not meet whole criteria. The patient was treated with ticlopidine, and anticoagulant therapy was recommended.

Localization of Ulnar Neuropathy at the Elbow by Short Segment Stimulation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Local compression of the ulnar nerve occurs most commonly at the elbow and optimal surgical intervention should be directed at the specific site of involvement. This study is designed to localize the more discrete region by using the method of short segment stimulation in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. METHODS: Thirty seven patients who were diagnosed as entrapment ulnar neuropathy at the elbow by routine nerve conduction studies were investigated. Latency changes and amplitude changes including conduction block were determined by stimulating the ulnar nerve at 2cm intervals across the elbow. Six of these patients had orthopedic surgery after undergoing short segment stimulation studies. RESULT: All patients had significant latency changes(> OR =0.7msec) in specific segments by short segment stimulation and 6 patients of them showed conduction block. The most frequently involved segments were between medial epicondyle and 2cm proximal(20 patients) and between medial epicondyle and 2cm distal(9 patients). Only two patients exhibited significant latency changes between 2 and 4cm distal to the medial epicondyle, suggesting cubital tunnel syndrome. Lesions, as identified by surgery, proved to be accurately predicted by preoperative short segment stimulation in 5 of 6 patients. CONCLUSION: Short segment stimulation studies are helpful in localizing more accurate involved segment in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. And the most commonly involved site is within 2cm of the medial epicondyle suggesting tardy ulnar nerve palsy.