The Study of Expression of Caspase-3 in Bladder Cancer and Renal Cell Carcinima / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: The caspase (ICE/CED-3) family of proteases have been implicated to play a important role in apoptosis and caspase-3(CPP32, YAMA, Apopain) exhibits the highest similarity to CED-3 which produced by CED-3 gene, the prototype of cell death gene in nematode. The objective of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of expression of caspase-3 in bladder cancer and renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy five patients with bladder cancer and thirty eight patients with renal cell carcinoma were enrolled in this study. We performed immunohistochemical staining of caspase-3 in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue section using goat polyclonal antibody, specific for the p20 subunit of caspase-3. The expression of caspase-3 were compared with TNM stage, Ash grade, and size of tumor in bladder cancer, and TNM stage, Robson stage, Fuhrman nuclear grade, and size of tumor in renal cell carcinoma. RESULTS: The expression of caspase-3 were significantly correlated with T stage and N stage in bladder cancer(p=0.04, p=0.03). However, there were no significant correlation between the expression of caspase-3 and other prognostic parameters in bladder cancer and renal cell carcinoma. Caspase-3 was diffusely stained in only 1 case of renal cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The prognostic value of expression of caspase-3 in patients with bladder cancer and renal cell carcinoma were insufficient, but caspase-3 paly an important role in apoptosis and more studies are necessary for evaluation of many steps in apoptotic cascade of many cancers.

Incidence of Vascular Risk Factors in Patients with Erectile Dysfunction Aged Over 40 Years: Comparison with Normal Men of Corresponding Age / 대한남성과학회지

PURPOSE: The incidences of four main vascular risk factors (VRFs) - diabetes mellitus (DM), smoking, hyperlipidemia (HLP), and obesity were investigated in men aged over 40 years with or without erectile dysfunction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: There were 943 patients with erectile dysfunction (mean age 55.0 years; range 40-73 years) and 242 normal men (mean age 50.6; range 40-71 years). Blood levels of various lipid fractions (triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein), body weight, and height were measured in all subjects. Abnormal VRFs were defined as follows: hypertension = >160 mmHg (systolic pressure) or 95 mmHg (diastoic pressure), hyperlipidemia = at least one abnormal fraction (triglycerides > 160 mg/dl, total cholesterol >250 mg/dl, LDL >150 mg/dl), and obesity = >120% of ideal body weight. The presence or absence of DM, hypertension, smoking, and erectile dysfunction was determined by a self-reported subject questionnaire and history. RESULTS: The incidence of abnormal LDL was significantly (p<0.05) higher in patients than the control men. The incidences of HLP, DM, and hypertension were significantly (all p<0.05) higher in the patients 40 to 59 years of age than in the control men of corresponding ages, but differences in the incidences of smoking and obesity were not statistically significant. Abnormal VRFs were significantly (all p<0.01) more common in patients aged 40 to 59 years than in the control men of the same ages. In men over 60 years of age, there were no differences between the patients and control subjects in number of VRFs or the incidences of HLP, DM, and hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Especially in men 40 to 59 years of age, DM, HLP, and hypertension were significantly correlated with erectile dysfunction. The aging process, rather than such specific risk factors, might be a main cause of erectile dysfunction in men aged over 60 years.

Extensive Penile Necorsis Following Implantation of Malleable Penile Prosthesis: Two Cases / 대한남성과학회지

Penile necrosis is a rare, serious complication of penile prosthesis implantation. Severas factors, including systemic disease, compressive dressing, hematoma, edema, indwelling urethral catheter, and local infection may contribute to the complication. We report two cases of penile necrosis caused by hematoma and compressive dressings applied to control the bleeding.

Changes in Symptom Score and Uroflowmetry in 3 and 6 Months after Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia / 대한남성과학회지

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) using the Prostatron with Prostasoft 2.5 software in the patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with a Madsen symptom score (MSS) and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of 8 or more and a maximal uroflow rate of 15mL/sec or less were treated. Fifty-five patients (mean age 64.5 years, range 54~75 years) were followed up for 3 months and 23 patients (mean age 63.9 years, range 52~72 years) for 6 months. The MSS, IPSS, and uroflowmetry values (maximal flow rate, average flow rate, delay time, flow time, voiding time, time to maximal flow, and postvoiding residual volume), and quality of life were measured at baseline and 3 and 6 months after TUMT. RESULTS: The MSS (14.7 vs. 5.42, 14.2 vs. 3.90), IPSS (21.6 vs. 9.57, 20.0 vs. 6.73), and quality of life (4.37 vs. 2.53, 4.24 vs. 1.86) were significantly improved at 3 and 6 months after treatment (p<0.01). All uroflowmetry values except delay time were significantly improved at 3 months (p<0.01); at 6 months, the maximal flow rate (11.0 vs. 14.3 mL/sec), residual urine (70.3 vs. 22.6 mL) (p<0.01), and average flow rate (5.26 vs. 7.19 mL/sec) (p<0.05) were improved. CONCLUSIONS: High-energy TUMT could be an effective and safe method for the treatment of symptomatic BPH. Further studies on the long-term outcome of this procedure are necessary.