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Biomedical subjects

J H Ku

Publications and source records attributed to J H Ku.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

The prevalence of chronic prostatitis-like symptoms in young men: a community-based survey.

We surveyed the prevalence of chronic prostatitis-like symptoms in young men using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (CPSI) and determined the clinical validity of the NIH-CPSI among men in the community. Of 29,017 men aged 20 years dwelling in the community, 8,705 men were randomly selected at a 30.0% sampling fraction and a total of 6,940 men (a response rate 79.7%) completed a self-administered questionnaire. Six percent reported having pain or discomfort in more than one area . About 5% did not feel that the bladder emptied fully after urinating more than 1 time in 5 and 10.5% had to urinate again within 2 h more than 1 time in 5. As the scores for pain or discomfort increased, those for urinary symptoms and impact on quality of life increased (P < 0.001; Armitage test). As the scores for urinary symptoms increased, those for pain or discomfort and impact on quality of life also increased (P < 0.001; Armitage test). The community-based prevalence of chronic prostatitis-like symptoms were found to be high in young men as well as in older men. Our findings indicate that men with pain or urinary symptoms experience a negative impact on their quality of life and the NIH-CPSI provides a valid measure for the general population.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Is there a role of radial rigidity in the evaluation of erectile dysfunction?

RigiScan has been the most widely utilized device for measuring erectile rigidity. However, the use of the RigiScan in the evaluation of erectile dysfunction has questionable because the RigiScan device does not directly determine axial rigidity. The aim of this study is to clarify that radial rigidity measured by RigiScan reflects the intracorporeal pressure and erectile capability efficiently. From January 1998 to May 1999, a total of 23 patients with erectile dysfunction were involved in the study. They were evaluated by RigiScan and duplex ultrasonography after intracorporeal injection of prostaglandin E1. We investigated the relationship between radial rigidity and the resistance index. The results of radial rigidity were also compared with that of the degree of erection. For the entire group, significant correlations were found between radial rigidity and the resistance index (r=0.680, P<0.001 for tip rigidity; r=0.703, P<0.001 for base rigidity). In addition, for 12 patients whose tip rigidity exceeded 60% and for 10 whose base rigidity exceeded 60%, the correlations between radial rigidity and the resistance index remained (r=0.659, P=0.020 for tip rigidity; r=0.759, P=0.011 for base rigidity). Based on the response determined by patients, radial rigidity represented the degree of erection efficiently. Our findings suggest that RigiScan is a useful diagnostic tool. Radial rigidity represents the intracorporeal pressure efficiently and has an acceptable role in the evaluation of erectile dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Is there a role for magnetic resonance imaging in renal trauma?

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) has been the most informative imaging method in renal trauma. Despite the good sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to the presence of hematoma, edema and ischemia, MRI has not been widely studied in patients with renal trauma. The present study was initiated to evaluate the role of MRI in patients with renal trauma. METHODS: Between June 1998 and September 1999, CT and MRI were prospectively performed on 12 patients who suffered from renal trauma and the results reviewed. RESULTS: The presence and size of perirenal hematoma could be detected by both CT and MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging could differentiate intrarenal hematoma from perirenal hematoma more accurately, and provided additional information about the hematoma as T1- and T2-weighted MRI were able to determine recent bleeding in the hematoma by regional differences in signal intensity. Magnetic resonance imaging clearly revealed renal fracture with non-viable fragment and detected focal renal laceration that was not detected on CT due to perirenal hematoma associated with renal infarction. However, although MRI had many advantages over CT, it had also major drawbacks, which were that it required longer imaging time and increased the cost. CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance imaging may be useful in renal trauma. However, it is suggested that MRI should be limited to carefully selected patients, such as those with severe renal injury or equivocal findings on CT.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The excisional, plication and internal drainage techniques: a comparison of the results for idiopathic hydrocele.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the results of the excision, plication and internal drainage techniques for hydrocele repair. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1990 and June 1998, 132 patients (mean age 54.36 years, range 16-83) underwent repair for idiopathic hydrocele using one of three techniques (excision, eversion/plication or internal drainage); the complication and recurrence rates of each technique were evaluated. RESULTS: The excisional technique resulted in the highest complication rate (81%) and the internal drainage technique the lowest (7%). Postoperative scrotal oedema occurred in 74% of patients after plication and this was the highest rate among the techniques (P < 0.001). Differences in the rates of wound infection and haematoma among the three techniques were not statistically significant. The internal drainage technique had the highest recurrence rate (85%) and the excisional technique the lowest (1.3%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although useful, the internal drainage technique has a high recurrence rate and we suggest abandoning its use for hydrocele repair. The present results suggest that plication is better than excision, causing fewer complications, and better than internal drainage, as the results are more favourable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The development of the virtual reality system for the treatment of the fears of public speaking.

The fear of public speaking is a kind of social phobias. The patients having the fear of public speaking show some symptoms like shame and timidity in the daily personal relationship. They are afraid that the other person would be puzzled, feel insulted, and they also fear that they should be underestimated for their mistakes. For the treatment of the fear of public speaking, the cognitive-behavioral therapy has been generally used. The cognitive-behavioral therapy is the method that makes the patients gradually experience some situations inducing the fears and overcome those at last. Recently, the virtual reality technology has been introduced as an alternative method for providing phobic situations. In this study, we developed the public speaking simulator and the virtual environments for the treatment of the fear of public speaking. The head-mounted display, the head-tracker and the 3 dimensional sound system were used for the immersive virtual environment. The imagery of the virtual environment consists of a seminar room and 8 virtual audiences. The patient will speak in front of these virtual audiences and the therapist can control motions, facial expressions, sounds, and voices of each virtual audience.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy↗
PubMed2000

Two cases of perineal ectopic testis.

PURPOSE: Perineal ectopic testis is seen very rarely and here we report on two patients with perineal ectopic testis. METHODS/RESULTS: We experienced two cases of perineal ectopic testis on which orchiopexies to the corresponding hemiscrotums were performed. CONCLUSIONS: On surgical exploration, the gubernaculum testes were found to lie fixed to the perineum.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Infected hydrocele in a neonate.

A case of infected hydrocele in a neonate is presented. We describe this unusual condition, and discuss the diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1999

The preventive effect of systemic treatment with interferon-alpha2B for infertility from mumps orchitis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of interferon-alpha2B on mumps orchitis, often caused by postpubertal mumps and which can result in permanent testicular atrophy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 21 patients with mumps orchitis, treated between May 1990 and June 1997. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups: in group 1, 13 patients received therapy with interferon-alpha2B (3 x 10(6) IU per day) and group 2 did not, acting as controls. All were evaluated by measurements of testis size, mumps virus titre, hormone level and semen analysis. RESULTS: In group 1, the patients' symptoms resolved within 2-3 days and the volume of the testes returned to normal within 11 days; there was no testicular atrophy in any patient during the follow-up. However, asthenospermia continued to be detected in four patients (unilateral in two, bilateral in two). In group 2, the patients' symptoms resolved within 5-6 days and the volume of the testes returned to normal within 10 days; testes atrophied in three patients (unilateral in two, bilateral in one) during the follow-up. Asthenospermia continued in four patients (unilateral in two, bilateral in two). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that treatment with systemic interferon-alpha2B is effective in preventing testicular atrophy when combined with standard symptomatic treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Detection of tumor cell contamination in peripheral blood by RT-PCR in gastrointestinal cancer patients.

We analyzed the peripheral blood of patients with gastrointestinal tract cancer at different stages to assess the presence of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) mRNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which we used as an indicator for micrometastatic malignant cells. A total of 35 gastric, 24 colorectal, 4 esophageal and 4 biliary tract cancer patients and nine normal healthy subjects were studied. No CEA mRNA was detected in the nine normal healthy volunteers. CEA mRNA was detected in 100% (10/10) of metastatic, 33.3% (3/9) of early gastric cancer (EGC), and 18.8% (3/16) resectable gastric cancer patients, respectively. In colorectal cancer, 55.6% (5/9) of metastatic cancers were positive for CEA mRNA, and 26.7% (4/15) Duke stage B/C showed positive. One patient with stage III gastric cancer who was negative CEA mRNA initially and turned positive during follow-up, developed multiple bone metastasis one month later. Another stage III patient, who was positive for CEA mRNA, preoperatively revealed early relapse in two months. These results suggest that the identification of circulating tumor cells using RT-PCR for the detection of CEA mRNA is feasible and this analysis may be a promising tool for early detection of micrometastatic circulating malignant cells in patients with gastrointestinal tract cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Cell cycle regulators during human atrial development.

OBJECTIVES: The molecular mechanisms that regulate cardiomyocyte cell cycle and terminal differentiation in humans remain largely unknown. To determine which cyclins, cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) and cyclin kinase inhibitors (CKIs) are important for cardiomyocyte proliferation, we have examined protein levels of cyclins, CDKs and CKIs during normal atrial development in humans. METHODS: Atrial tissues were obtained in the fetus from inevitable abortion and in the adult during surgery. Cyclin and CDK proteins were determined by Western blot analysis. CDK activities were determined by phosphorylation amount using specific substrate. RESULTS: Most cyclins and CDKs were high during the fetal period and their levels decreased at different rates during the adult period. While the protein levels of cyclin D1, cyclin D3, CDK4, CDK6 and CDK2 were still detectable in adult atria, the protein levels of cyclin E, cyclin A, cyclin B, cdc2 and PCNA were not detectable. Interestingly, p27KIP1 protein increased markedly in the adult period, while p21CIP1 protein in atria was detectable only in the fetal period. While the activities of CDK6, CDK2 and cdc2 decreased markedly, the activity of CDK4 did not change from the fetal period to the adult period. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that marked reduction of protein levels and activities of cyclins and CDKs, and marked induction of p27KIP1 in atria, are associated with the withdrawal of cardiac cell cycle in adult humans.

Adult↗