Usefulness of the Mycofast Test (MYCOFAST(R) Evolution 2) for the Diagnosis of Nongonococcal Genitourinary Infections / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: We wanted to investigate the usefulness of Mycofast (MYCOFAST(R) Evolution 2, International Microbio, France) for Ureaplasma urealyticum (U. urealyticum) and Mycoplasma hominis (M. hominis) in association with nongonococcal genitourinary infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 530 patients visited our department for genitourinary infection symptoms or for the evaluation of sexually transmitted disease. The genital swabs were first vortexed in Mycofast transport broth. A volume of 100mul of liquid sample was innoculated to each well of the Mycofast broths and 0.5mul of liquid sample was innoculated to A7 agar culture media (International Microbio, France). The Mycofast broths were incubated at 35-37 degrees C for 36 hrs, and the A7 agar culture media was incubated for 4 days. We compaired Mycofast with A7 agar culture for the sensitivity, specificity, the positive and negative predictive values and the antibiotic susceptable profiles. RESULTS: Of the 530 samples submitted, 165 samples were positive by the A7 agar culture and 162 samples were positive by Mycofast. 157 samples were positive by both methods. Of the 365 samples that were negative by the A7 agar culture, 360 samples were also negative by the Mycofast. In this study, Mycofast had a sensitivity and specificity of 95% and 98%, respectively, and a positive and negative predictive value of 96% and 97%, respectively. The Mycofast drug susceptibility tests indicate a high susceptibility to doxycyclin as follows: U. urealyticum: 86.3%; M. hominis: 85.0% and both organisms with simultaneous isolation: 75.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Mycofast was an easy test to perform and it proved to be a practical and reliable method for isolating the Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma species for making the diagnosis of nongonococcal genitourinary infections, and it showed the added benefit of determining the limited susceptibilities of the isolated strains.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Extracorporeal Magnetic Therapy on Low Urinary Tract Symptoms and Sexual Function in Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: To find whether extracorporeal magnetic innervation (ExMi) changes the low urinary tract symptoms and sexual function in patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: ExMi treatment was performed in 51 patients, diagnosed as National Institute of Health (NIH) type III prostatitis, with each treatment session composed of 10 min at 40Hz, 2 min rest and 10 min at 50Hz. Both before and after the completion of 8 sessions of ExMi, self-administered NIH-chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI) and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaires were completed to assess the changes in the patient's symptoms. RESULTS: Following the ExMi treatment, 25 of the 40 patients experienced a 30% or greater improvement of low urinary tract symptoms. The total NIH-CPSI scores ranged from 22.4 to 15.6 (p<0.05). Each domain of the NIH-CPSI was as follows: pain, from 9.0 to 6.2; urination, from 6.7 to 4.8 and effect on the quality of life, from 6.6 to 4.5, and 11 of the 26 patients experienced a 15% or greater improvement of their sexual function. The mean total IIEF scores ranged from 44.1+/-13.5 to 51.6+/-11.3 (p<0.05). Each domain of the IIEF was as follows: erectile function, from 19.5 7.0 to 21.7+/-5.6 (p<0.05); intercourse satisfaction, from 7.4+/-2.2 to 9.5+/-2.2 (p<0.05); orgasm function, from 6.5+/-2.2 to 6.6+/-2.6 (p=0.516); sexual desire, from 6.2+/-1.9 to 6.3+/-1.6 (p=0.294) and overall satisfaction from 5.4+/-1.5 to 7.3+/-1.3 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: result, ExMi was shown to reduce the lower urinary tract symptoms, and enhances the sexual function in CPPS, suggesting ExMi is effective and may help in the management of CPPS.

Sarcomatoid Renal Cell Carcinoma / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Cases of sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma are very rare. It has been known that sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma is an epithelial cell variant that has been metaplastically transformed with a very poor prognosis. Diagnosis of sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma is performed by examining a nephrectomy specimen to see if epithelial and sarcomatoid components are variously mixed together. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to report five cases of sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma.