Association of the Adiponectin Gene Variations with Risk of Ischemic Stroke in a Korean Population

PURPOSE: Stroke is the second leading cause of death and a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Evidence of variations in adiponectin(AdipoQ) genes that are associated with ischemic stroke has not been consistent, and it is unclear whether the same loci contribute to these associations in the Korean population. Using a Korean population, we tested ischemic stroke-associated AdipoQ markers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a preliminary genome-wide association study using 320 250 k Affymetrix NSP chips, AdipoQ was found to be associated with ischemic stroke in Koreans. To study of AdipoQ, a further 673 ischemic stroke patients and 267 unrelated individuals without a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack were examined in a case-control study. RESULTS: Six polymorphisms (rs182052G > A, rs16861205G > A, rs822391T > C, rs822396A > G, rs12495941G > T and rs3774261A > G) that had a minor allele frequency of over 1% were strongly associated with stroke (p C and rs822396A > G showed this association on both dominant and additive logistic regression analysis after adjusting for age and sex. The haplotypes ht 1 (AGGCGG and AAGTAG) were significantly associated with susceptibility to stroke. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that polymorphisms in AdipoQ are associated with risk for ischemic stroke in the Korean population. This study lends further support to the putative role of AdipoQ in stroke.

Association of UCP1 Genetic Polymorphisms with Blood Pressure among Korean Female Subjects

Recent studies have provided some clues with regard to the relationship existing between uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and blood pressure in animal experiments. In an attempt to determine the genetic polymorphisms that are associated with blood pressure in humans, we have analyzed genetic polymorphisms in UCP1 gene. In this study, we assessed the association between UCP1 genotypes and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), in a population comprised of 832 Korean female subjects, using a general linear model, which was adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI). Among 4 genetic polymorphisms and the haplotypes constructed from them, haplotype3 of UCP1, UCP1-ht3[GAGA], evidenced significant associations with SBP (p=0.005) and DBP (p=0.013). However, this haplotype was not significantly associated with obesity phenotypes, including BMI or fat mass (p>0.05), thereby suggesting that its association with blood pressure was independent of obesity phenotypes.

Correlation of Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression and Microvessel Density with Prognosis in Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Upper Urinary Tract / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and microvessel density (MVD), a reflection of angiogenesis, with prognosis in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract (TCC-UUT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections of TCC-UUT from 91 patients, who had undergone radical nephroureterectomy, were examined immunohistochemically using antibodies against COX-2 and CD34. MVD was determined with CD34-stained slides. The expression patterns of COX-2 and MVD were compared with the clinicopathological variables. RESULTS: The COX-2 expression was significantly correlated with T stage (p=0.002), N stage (p=0.010), and grade (p=0.027). MVD was also significantly correlated with T stage (p<0.001), N stage (p=0.002), and grade (p=0.001). The COX-2 expression was significantly correlated with MVD (p=0.001). The survival rate of patients with COX-2 positive tumors or high MVD was significantly lower than that of patients with COX-2 negative tumors or low MVD, respectively (p=0.0013, p=0.0312). Univariate analyses identified T stage, N stage, grade, COX-2 expression, and MVD as significant prognostic factors for cancer-specific survival; multivariate analyses indicated that T stage was the only independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: The increased expression of COX-2 and MVD is associated with a worse prognosis in TCC-UUT. The COX-2 expression is correlated with MVD. These results suggest that COX-2 may play an important role in the progression of TCC-UUT and angiogenesis may be affected by COX-2 during the progression of TCC-UUT.

Inaccuracy in Ultrasonographic Measurement of the Testicular Volume in Children / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: For the measurement of testicular volume, we tried to evaluate the differences between the 1) ultrasonographic and intraoperative ruler measurements, 2) the performances by a radiologist and urologic residents and also 3) the difference among the various formulas for volume calculation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sizes of 108 testes of 96 children (mean age: 4) were measured preoperatively for the length (L) and width (W) with using ultrasonography by a radiologist. These testes were also measured intraoperatively for the L, W and thickness (T) with using a ruler. Of the 108 testes, 57 testes were also scanned with using ultrasonography by urologic residents to measure the L, W and T. The testicular volumes were calculated with three different formulas: LxW2x0.52 (F1), LxWxTx0.52 (F2) and LxWxTx0.71 (F3). RESULTS: The mean volumes of the 108 testes measured with ultrasonography by the radiologist and with a ruler were 0.27+/-0.2ml vs. 0.87+/-0.56ml, respectively (p<0.001). The mean difference between the volumes measured with ultrasonography and a ruler was 0.61+/-0.47ml. The mean volume of 57 testes measured with ultrasonography by the urologic residents was not significantly different from that measured by a radiologist (p=0.235), and it was also smaller than the volume measured with an intraoperative ruler (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The testicular volume in children was much underestimated by ultrasonography with statistical significance. Therefore, the possibility of underestimation must be considered in clinical settings. The testicular volumes measured with ultrasonography by the radiologist and by the urologic residents had no significant difference.

Primary Actinomycosis of the Urinary Bladder Associated with Intrauterine Contraceptive Device / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Actinomycosis is a chronic suppurative infectious disease usually caused by the anaerobic bacterium Actinomyces israelii. Pelvic actinomycosis is rare, and usually associated with the use of intrauterine contraceptive devices. Primary vesical actinomycosis is extremely rare. Herein, a case of a 42-year-old woman, who presented with bladder irritative symptoms and had a 13 year history of intrauterine device insertion, is reported. With the presumptive diagnosis of bladder tumor or abscess, partial cystectomy was performed. Pathological examination revealed a primary vesical actinomycosis.

Analysis of Heart Rate Variability in Patients with Urgency

PURPOSE: To characterize autonomic dysfunction in patients with urgency, we measured heart rate variability (HRV) and analyzed them compared with those of normal population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ECG signals were obtained from 32 female patients (mean age, 46.4 years) and 86 healthy female controls (mean age, 43.7 years) in resting state. We analyzed their parameters of HRV and compared them between groups. RESULTS: Time domain analysis including standard deviation of NN interval (SDNN), square root of mean of sum of squares of differences between adjacent NN intervals (RMSSD) in patients with urgency were not significantly different with those of controls. There were suggested evidence of decreased total power (TP), high frequency (HF) in patients with urgency (p<0.05) while no significant difference in other frequency domain such as very low frequency (VLF), low frequency (LF) and LF/HF ratio. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study shows that patients with urgency have different results on HRV study comparing to controls. With the exception of LF and LF/HF ratio, all parameters of HRV in patients with urgency decreased than normal controls. TP, HF in patients with urgency significantly decreased than that of normal controls. The decreased values of HRV study means that they may have some kinds of disease or imbalance in autonomic nervous system (ANS). So we suggest that HRV study may be a tool to describe the possibility of altered ANS activity in patients with urgency.

Xanthogranulomatous Epididymitis / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Xanthogranulomatous epididymitis is an extremely rare disease. Its etiology is unclear, but it is characterized by chronic suppurative granulomatous inflammation. We report on a 53-year-old diabetic man who suffered from left scrotal swelling and pain. Because the condition did not improve with the use of antibiotic therapy, left orchiectomy was performed. Pathological examination revealed a xanthogranulomatous epididymitis.