Moo Sang Lee

Doxazosin for benign prostatic hyperplasia: An open-label, baseline-controlled study in Korean general practice

Background: Few studies have reported the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in Asian patients. We assessed the safety and efficacy of doxazosin, a selective α1‐adrenoceptor antagonist, in the treatment of Korean patients with symptomatic BPH.

COMPARISON OF SINGLE AND MULTIPLE SESSIONS OF PERCUTANEOUS SCLEROTHERAPY FOR SIMPLE RENAL CYST

OBJECTIVE To compare the results of single and repeated percutaneous sclerotherapy in patients with simple renal cysts. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eighty-two patients with simple renal cysts underwent needle aspiration andsclerotherapy under ultrasonographic guidance. Forty-two patients (group 1) underwent one session of sclerotherapy with 99% ethanol immediately after aspiration and 40 patients (group 2) underwent sclerotherapy at least twice. The patients were followed up using ultrasonography at 3-month intervals. The complete disappearance or a reduction of more than half in the diameter of the renal cyst was considered a successful treatment. RESULTS The mean diameter of the renal cysts was not significantly different in group 1 (6.12 cm) and 2 (6.75 cm). There was complete or partial regression in eight (19%) and 16 (38%) in group 1, and in 29 (73%) and nine (23%) in group 2, respectively. The overall success rate was significantly better in group 2 (95%) than in group 1 (57%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that multiple sclerotherapy is better than a single injection of sclerosant for reducing the recurrence of simple renal cysts.

Cellular Proliferation during Compensatory Renal Growth in Neonatal Rats Using Flow Cytometry

Background: Compensatory renal growth consists of cellular enlargement and a small but consistent increase in DNA content. It has been assumed that the increase in the total renal DNA content was due to new cell formation. Methods: To test the hypothesis of whether cellular hyperplasia is the cause of the compensatory renal growth after the loss of the renal parenchyma and the timing of the DNA increase in neonatal rats, we performed cell cycle analysis using flow cytometry. Results: Following unilateral nephrectomy, the maximum increases of neonatal cortical cells entering the S phase occurred at 72 and 120 h (9.4 and 9.6% compared to 7.0 and 6.1% of the sham-operated group). Peak increases of neonatal kidney cortical cells entering the G2M phase occurred at 48 and 72 h (4.3 and 4.6% compared to 3.3 and 3.9% of the sham-operated group). Conclusion: DNA synthesis and replication occurs during compensatory renal growth following unilateral nephrectomy in neonatal rats as evidenced by an increase in cells entering both the S and G2M phases. In neonatal rats these events appear to be completed within 48–120 h after nephrectomy.

Impaired finger dexterity and nigrostriatal dopamine loss in Parkinson’s disease

Impaired finger dexterity occurs in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and has been considered a limb-kinetic apraxia associated with primary sensory cortical dysfunction. To study the role of nigrostriatal dopamine loss and elementary parkinsonian motor deficits in impaired finger dexterity of PD. Thirty-two right-handed untreated PD patients and 30 right-handed healthy controls were included. All patients underwent [18F] FP-CIT positron emission tomography studies. We examined the associations among unilateral coin rotation (CR) score, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) subscores for bradykinesia and rigidity of the corresponding arm, and contralateral regional striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) uptake. We also measured the effect of oral levodopa dose on CR scores and UPDRS subscores. PD patients performed worse than controls on the CR task. Unilateral arm UPDRS bradykinesia scores were associated with DAT uptake in the contralateral putamen. The left CR score was associated with left arm bradykinesia and rigidity scores and DAT uptake in the right posterior putamen, whereas no such associations were found for the right CR score. There was a significant effect of handedness on the association of putamen DAT uptake with CR scores, but not with UPDRS subscores. An oral levodopa challenge improved CR scores and UPDRS subscores on both sides. Impaired finger dexterity in PD is related to elementary parkinsonian motor deficits and nigrostriatal dopamine loss. Impaired dominant hand dexterity associated with nigrostriatal dopamine loss seems to be compensated to some extent by the dominant cerebral cortex specialized for controlling precise finger movements.

High precision carbon-interspaced antiscatter grids: Performance testing and moiré pattern analysis

Recently, we have developed high precision carbon-interspaced antiscatter grids to be suitable for digital radiography (DR) by adopting a precise sawing process. For systematic evaluation of the grid performance, we prepared several sample grids having different grid frequencies (4.0 to 8.5 lines/mm) and grid ratios (5:1 to 10:1) and established a well-controlled test condition based upon the IEC standard. In this paper, we presented the performance characteristics of the carboninterspaced grids in terms of the transmission of primary radiation (Tp), the transmission of scattered radiation (Ts), the transmission of total radiation (Tt), contrast improvement factor (Cif), Bucky factor (B), and signal-to-noise improvement factor (SNRif). We also described the grid line artifact, known as a moiré pattern, which may be the most critical problem to be solved for the successful grid use in DR. We examined the factors that affect the moiré pattern, particularly the grid frequency and the grid rotation angle, by integrating the sample grids with an a-Se based flat panel detector having a 139 μm × 139 μm pixel size.

The Exploratory Study for Medical Aptitude Constructs

Purpose: The aim of this study is to explore the individual traits needed for the successful performance of a doctors duties as well as to establish primary criteria for the Medical Education Eligibility Test. Methods: This study conducted qualitatively by interviewing 43 persons: medical school professors, residents, and medical reporters. The analysis of data were applied a content analysis. Results: 1) The important intelligent abilities revealed were problem solving, verbal expression, and memory. 2) The personality traits included sincerity, sociability, respectability, gentleness, and reflective thinking. 3) The biology, chemistry, and physics were important in the natural science background knowledge, and 4) linguistics, philosophy, and social science were important in human and social science background knowledge. Conclusion: The medical aptitude could be constructed intelligent ability, personality trits, and background knowledges, and include specific aspects depended on Korean context.

Ofloxacin in the Treatment of Urethritis in Men

Gonococcal urethritis 9 first voided urine were recorded throughout the evaluation. On the basis of laboratory studies using a Gram stain, an enzyme-linked immunoassay for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis, and T -broth for quantitative culture of Ureaplasma urealyticum, patients were classified into the following groups: gonococcal urethritis (n = 9), nongonococcal urethritis (n = 43) and nonspecific urethritis (n = 8). Of the patients with gonococcal urethritis, 1 was infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae only and 7 had concomitant Ureaplasma infection. Of the patients with nongonococcal urethritis, 34 were infected with V. urealyticum only, 1 with C. trachomatis only and 8 had concomitant V. urealyticum and C. trachomatis infection (table I). N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis were eradicated in all patients, with or without concomitant V. urealyticum infection, after treatment with ofloxacin 200mg twice daily for 10 days (table II). V. urealyticum was eradicated in 43 of 50 patients (86%) [table II] treated with ofloxacin 200mg twice daily for 10 days, and 7 patients who failed to respond were successfully treated with erythromycin or doxycycline. After

The Development Tasks of Medical School Accreditation in Korea

The Accreditation Board for Medical Education in Korea. ABMEK, is nongovernmental appraisal organization that was established at July, 2, 1998. The organization is contributing to the improvement of medical education by progressing the first cycle accreditation successfully. But, the organization has various problems and subjects related to the accreditation system. The authors examined the related literature focusing on the current status and problems of accreditation system. The result of this research was s follows. First, the ABMEK needs to propel legal personality of organization and should install independent executive office. Second, the ABMEK should establish the alteration procedure of accreditation standards and develop the accreditation standards of the second cycle that take into account international flowing of medical education. Third, the ABMEK must decide forms and scope to investigate medical college present situation. Finally, to propel development tasks effectively, it needs to get the recognition of Ministry of Education and Human Development.