The Effect of Marital Satisfaction and Dysfunctional Attitudes on Married Women's Depression / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to examine the effect of marital satisfaction and dysfunctional attitudes on depression in married women. METHODS: Forty depressed married female patients and 34 non-depressed married women as normal control group completed three self-report questionnaires, Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) Dysfunctional Attitude Scale(DAS) and Dyadic Adjustment Scale(DYAS) Marital satisfaction and dysfunctional attitudes were compared by student t-test between the two groups. Also, relative importances of each variables to depression were examined with stepwise multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Depressed patients reported significantly lower level of marital satisfaction and showed higher level of dysfunctional attitudes than normal controls. Dyadic satisfaction, approval need, and perfectionism subfactors were more important in predicting depressive symptomatology than other variables in patients. CONCLUSION: We conclude that marital satisfaction has significant influence on development and maintenance of depression in married women, and in underlying thinking process, dysfunctional attitudes serve as a cognitive vulnerability factor. This conclusion involves the expectation that if dysfunctional attitudes of depressed married women could be changed positively, their marital satisfaction will be increased to higher level and depression will be decreased. Overall, our findings stress that we need to consider the degrees of marital satisfaction and dysfunctional attitudes of depressed maried women, when treating them, in order to individualize treatments and optimize our ability to predict responsiveness to therapy.

A Case of Emphysematous Prostatitis / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Emphysematous prostatitis is characterized by pockets of gas within the prostate due to gas-forming organisms. Although only one case of emphysematous prostatitis had been reported in the literature, it was incidental finding associated with emphysematous cystitis. We consider that it is the result of aerobic urinary tract infections or may be caused by gastrointestinal fistula or iatrogenic surgical and diagnostic instrumentation. We report a case of emphysematous prostatitis in a 66 years old male with diabetes mellitus.

A Case of Emphysematous Prostatitis / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Emphysematous prostatitis is characterized by pockets of gas within the prostate due to gas-forming organisms. Although only one case of emphysematous prostatitis had been reported in the literature, it was incidental finding associated with emphysematous cystitis. We consider that it is the result of aerobic urinary tract infections or may be caused by gastrointestinal fistula or iatrogenic surgical and diagnostic instrumentation. We report a case of emphysematous prostatitis in a 66 years old male with diabetes mellitus.

Early Experience of the Transvaginal Burch Bladder Neck Suspension for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Ever since Pereyra described needle suspension of the bladder neck as a form of surgical therapy for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women numerous modifications have been presented. Each of these modifications has helped to found healthy anatomical and surgical principles that ensure patient safety, decrease morbidity and improve effectiveness. We had treated 8 patients of stress urinary incontinence with or without cystocele by transvaginal Burch procedure. By fixing suspension sutures to the Cooper`s ligament we expected to achieve a static suspension independent of everyday patients` activities. The duration of follow up was 3 months to 6 months. Them were no serious operative complications. Incontinence was completely disappeared in 6 patients (75%) and significantly improved in 1 patient (12.5%), and failed in 1 patients (12.5%). Although the small number of patients and limited follow up, we believe that fixation of suspension sutures to the Cooper`s ligament can favorably influence long-term results of treatment for female stress urinary incontinence.

Spontaneous Rupture of Renal Pelvis with Unknown Etiology: A Case Report / 대한비뇨기과학회지

We experienced a case of extensive urinary extravasation by rupture of renal pelvis in 61-year old male with no predisposing factors or any prior clues. He was managed by primary closure and followed up for 6 months without any problem.

Multidrug Resistance-Related Gene Expressions in Germ Cell Tumors in Testis / 대한비뇨기과학회지

The development of drug resistance is a major obstacle in effective cancer chemotherapy. Multidrug resistance(MDR) is a widely studied phenomenon of interest to both clinicians and research workers because many different cancer chemotherapeutic agents are involved and the genetic basis of MDR is understood to a large extent. Several studies show that the P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance-associated protein(MRP), glutathione-s-transferase-pi(GST-pi), and DNA topoisomerase II(topo II) have a complex role for the malignant phenotypes and MDR. Clearly, there is a need to investigate links between the diverse characteristics of tumors and the emergence of drug resistance. We have therefore used reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) assay to analyze expressions of MDR-related genes including the mdr1, MRP, topo II and GST-t gene in normal testis and testis tumors. The results are as follows: 1. The expression levels of topo II and GST-n genes in testis tumors, especially in the nonseminomatous germ cell tumor(NSGCT), were significantly higher than in normal testis(p=0.015 and 0.025, respectively). 2. The MDR-related gene expressions in testis tumors did not appear to be correlated with stage(p>0.05 in each case) and chemotherapy status(p>0.05 in each case). 3. MRP expression levels in primary tumors were much higher than in metastatic tumors. 4. In NSGCT, the coexpressions of the topo II and GST-r or MRP genes were significantly correlated but, seminoma showed no correlation between MDR-related genes in the same sample. Although the mechanism of these connection are not known, the results suggest that these expression patterns and higher GST-rexpression in NSGCF compared to seminoma confer diverse characteristics including difference in the presentation of tumor markers and the responsiveness to chemotherapy on NSGCF and seminoma.

Evaluation of the Acute Scrotum by Color Doppler Ultrasonography and Radioisotope Imaging in Children / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Acute scrotum is defined as an acute painful swelling of the scrotum or its content. There are many conditions it may cause acute scrotum, but since a delay in the diagnosis and treatment may led to necrosis and its loss, the possibility of torsion of the spermatic cord should be ruled out in the first place. In a retrospective study of 32 childhood patients with acute scrotum presenting to Chungbuk National University Hospital from March 1992 to March 1995, we evaluated general aspects of acute scrotum including the result of follow up. The incidence of acute epididymitis, testicular torsion, mumps orchitis, and torsion of a testicular appendage were 66%, 19%, 9% and 6%, respectively. Of the eight scrotal explorations performed, 6 had testicular torsion, and 2 had torsion of appendages. With the exception of cases of far advanced necrotic testes, both color Doppler ultrasound and radioisotope imaging were highly specific diagnostic modalities. But, because of the potentially devastating outcome of a false-negative result of imaging studies, we continue to believe that physical exam is the best guide regarding the necessity of surgical exploration and all patients with unequivocal examinations are best served by prompt surgical therapy.

A Case of Renal Artery Aneurysm with Calcification / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Renal artery aneurysms, previously considered to be rare, have been diagnosed more frequently in recent years mainly due to extensive use of angiography. Most aneurysms are asymptomatic, found incidentally, and their presenting symptoms may include microscopic or gross hematuria, flank pain and renovascular hypertension. The diagnosis may be highly suggestive when rim like calcification is exist on KUB with symptoms, and renal angiography is needed to confirm diagnosis. The treatment may be conservative or operative according to size and site. Operative management may include nephrectomy, revascularization, and aneurysmectomy. We report a case of left renal artery aneurysm with incomplete ring-like calcification in a 52-year-old hypertensive woman. The selective renal angiography showed renal artery aneurysm arising from the bifurcation of left main renal artery Because of the risk of aneurysmal rupture through its weak portion with incomplete calcification and the possibility of the renovascular hypertension due to anastomotic stenosis after aneurysmectomy, we performed nephrectomy.