A Case Report of Testicular Sparganosis Misdiagnosed as Testicular Tumor

Sparganosis is a parasitic infestation of human by plerocercoid larvae. Sparganum is usually reported to be found in the subcutaneous tissues as well as other organs, including scrotum. However, testicular sparganosis is extremely rare, because of strong capsule of tunica albuginea. An urban-living 54-yr-old Korean man presented with left scrotal pain for 6 yr. Both testes look normal physically. Ultrasonography revealed poorly defined, heterogeneous mass with increased echogenicity in the left testis. This case was misdiagnosed as testicular tumor and underwent orchiectomy, but was diagnosed as testicular sparganosis by histopathology. Sparganosis should be included for differential diagnosis of testis tumor in countries where sparganosis is prevalent.

Early Sequential Changes in Bladder Function after Partial Bladder Outlet Obstruction in Awake Sprague-Dawley Rats: Focus on the Decompensated Bladder

PURPOSE: We investigated bladder function, with special focus on initial functional changes, by objective report of decompensated bladder according to the percentage of residual urine volume to bladder capacity in awake, obstructed rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty rats were randomly subjected to sham operations (n=10) or partial bladder outlet obstruction (BOO, n=20). Cystometric investigations were performed without anesthesia 1 or 2 weeks after BOO surgery. To reduce the influence of confounding factors in awake cystometry, we used simultaneous recordings of intravesical and intraabdominal pressures. Decompensated bladder was defined as the bladder with more than 20% of residual volume compared with bladder capacity. RESULTS: Compared with that in sham animals, basal pressure was elevated in both BOO groups. Threshold pressure was higher in the 2 week BOO (p<0.01) group. Compliance was decreased in the 1 week BOO group (p<0.01) and increased in the 2 week BOO group (p<0.001). Bladder capacity was not increased in the 1 week BOO group, but was increased in the 2 week BOO group (p<0.01). Decompensation was found in 62.5% of the 1 week BOO group and in 33.3% of the 2 week BOO group. CONCLUSIONS: From the earlier phase, the bladders exhibited serial changes in pressure and volume parameters, and decompensated bladders defined by the percentage of residual volume to bladder capacity could be seen. During the later phase, there was an increasing tendency of compensated bladders, accompanied by the bladders being enlarged and more compliant.

Establishment of a Cavernous Fibrosis Model in a Rat Using Adenovirus Expressing Transforming Growth Factor-beta1 / 대한남성과학회지

PURPOSE: Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) has been implicated in cavernous fibrosis due to a variety of causes of erectile dysfunction (ED), such as diabetes mellitus and post-radical prostatectomy. To examine the role of the TGF-beta signaling pathway in cavernous fibrosis, we established a rat model of cavernous fibrosis by using adenovirus expressing TGF-beta1 (ad-TGF-beta1). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats received intracavernous injection of ad-TGF-beta1 (1x10(8), 1x10(9), or 1x10(10) virus particles [vp] in 100 microliter of PBS) and the penis was harvested for histologic examination at 10, 20, or 30 days after injection (n=4 per group and per time point). Based on the initial findings, the animals were divided into three groups (n=6 per group): Group 1, age-matched control; Group 2, intracavernous injection of ad-LacZ (1x10(10) vp/100 microliter); and Group 3, intracavernous injection of ad-TGF-beta1 (1x10(10) vp/100 microliter). At 30 days after injection, erectile function was evaluated during electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve. The penis was then harvested and stained with Masson's trichrome and antibody to smooth muscle alpha-actin. RESULTS: Masson's trichrome staining revealed that intracavernous delivery of ad-TGF-beta1 sufficiently induced cavernous fibrosis in a dose-dependent manner. The fibrotic scars persisted up to 30 days after injection at the highest dosage (1x10(10) vp/100 microliter), whereas no histologic evidence of cavernous fibrosis was found in the control rats or the ad-LacZ-injected rats. The rats receiving ad-TGF-beta1 showed a higher cavernous collagen content and less smooth muscle content than the control rats or ad-LacZ-injected rats. Erectile function was significantly decreased in rats receiving ad-TGF-beta1 compared with that in controls or rats receiving ad-LacZ. CONCLUSIONS: This model induced by ad-TGF-beta1 may play an important role in understanding the pathophysiologic mechanisms of cavernous fibrosis-associated TGF-beta signaling and the development of new therapeutics targeting this pathway.

The Effect of tolterodine Via Oral and Intravenous Administrations on Voiding in Awake Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats as an Overactive Bladder Model

PURPOSE: We investigated the effect of oral or intravenous tolterodine on cystometric parameters in awake spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) as a model of overactive bladder (OAB). The aim of our study was to observe the experimental conditions required to reproduce the clinical pharmacological effects of tolterodine, as seen in humans, to decrease bladder pressure or increase bladder capacity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied the effects of the most widely used antimuscarinic drug, tolterodine, on cystometric parameters via two different administrations (oral and intravenous) in awake SHRs. RESULTS: Oral administration of tolterodine 10 mg/kg(-1) body weight in awake rats did not change any cystometric parameters significantly. Intravenous administration of tolterodine 0.3 mg/kg(-1) body weight significantly decreased basal pressure (BP) and micturition pressure (MP), but showed no effect on micturition interval (MI) or bladder capacity (BC). CONCLUSION: Despite a high dose of tolterodine via an oral or an intravenous route, a decrease in BP or MP was the only effect on cystometrographic parameters in awake rats, whereas MI and BC were not significantly affected. Therefore, it is difficult to reproduce in awake rats as an acute response the cystometric increase in the MI that is observed in humans after chronic administration of antimuscarinic agents.

Median Raphe Cyst on Glans Penis / 대한남성과학회지

Median raphe cyst is a relatively uncommon disease and is caused by a defect in the embryonic development of male genitalia. Here, we report a case of median raphe cyst on the glans penis in a 20-year-old male, which was successfully treated by surgical excision.