• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.343-350
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• 2010

We measured the radiation exposure for 55 persons (male: 36, female: 19) who was diagnosed with kidney and ureter stones and received ESWL. The absorbed dose was measured at the organ which is expected to absorb relatively much radiation (kidney, bladder, liver). The radiation dose measurement voltage 80kVp, current of 5mA as a fixed model of the human body by using the Rando phantom with Radiophotoluminescent Glass Dosimeter. Absorbed dose was measured for two times (5 minute and 10 minute, each) and converted to effective dose. Mean number of treatment was 1.8 times (1~4) per patient was the mean time of radiation exposure533 seconds (248-2516). For the treatment of right renal stone, the effective dose of right kidney, left kidney, liver and bladder was 2.458mSv, 0.152mSv, 1.404 mSv and 0.019mSv, respectively. For the treatment of left renal stone, the effective dose of right kidney, left kidney, liver and bladder was 2.496mSv, 0.252mSv, 0.178 mSv, and 0.017mSv, respectively. For the treatment of distal ureter stone, the effective dose of right kidney, left kidney and bladder was 0.009mSv, 0.01mSv and 3.742mSv, respectively.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1777-1786
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• 2009

Thymosin ${\beta}4$, a small protein containing 43 amino acids, has multi-functional roles in cell physiology. It was first identified as a thymic maturation factor and recently has been shown to accelerate wound healing, hair growth, angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis. It was also reported to play a key role in developing organs, including the nervous system and heart. Thymosin ${\beta}4$ induces the expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF), laminin-5, and other important biologically active genes. Using tissue microarray analysis, we investigated the expression patterns of thymosin ${\beta}4$ and VEGF in various normal human adult tissues. Thymosin ${\beta}4$ was highly expressed in the liver, pancreas, ductal epithelium of the salivary gland, and heart, and moderately expressed in the skin, lung, spleen, lymph node, thymus, ureter, and blood endothelial cells in both the lung and adrenal gland. The expression of VEGF generally co-localized with thymosin ${\beta}4$ and VEGF was highly expressed in the pancreas, ureter, mammary gland, liver, esophagus, and blood endothelial cells in both the lung and adrenal gland. These results suggest that thymosin ${\beta}4$ plays an important role in the function of various organs and since the expression pattern of thymosin ${\beta}4$ co-localized with VEGF, part of that function may be to induce or maintain angiogenesis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.207-213
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• 2007

This study was designed to characterize ureteral smooth muscle motility and also to study the effect of forskolin(FSK) and isoproterenol(ISO) on smooth muscle contractility in murine ureter. High $K^+$(50 mM) produced tonic contraction by $0.17{\pm}0.06mN$(n=19). Neuropeptide and neurotransmitters such as serotonin($5{\mu}M$), histamine($20{\mu}M$), and carbarchol(CCh, $10{\sim}50{\mu}M$) did not produce significant contraction. However, CCh($50{\mu}M$) produced slow phasic contraction in the presence of 25 mM $K^+$. Cyclopiazonic acid(CPA, $10{\mu}M$), SR $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase blocker, produced tonic contraction(0.07 mN). Meanwhile, inhibition of mitochondria by protonophore carbnylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone(CCCP) also produced weak tonic contraction(0.01 mN). The possible involvement of $K^+$ channels was also pursued. Tetraethyl ammonium chloride(TEA, 10 mM), glibenclamide($10{\mu}M$) and quinidine($20{\mu}M$) which are known to block $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels($K_{Ca}$ channel), ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels($K_{ATP}$) and nonselective $K^+$ channel, respectively, did not elicit any significant effect. However, $Ba^{2+}$($1{\sim}2mM$), blocker of inward rectifier $K^+$ channels($K_{IR}$ channel), produced phasic contraction in a reversible manner, which was blocked by $1{\mu}M$ nicardipine, a blocker of dehydropyridine-sensitive voltage-dependent L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels($VDCC_L$) in smooth muscle membrane. This $Ba^{2+}$-induced phasic contraction was significantly enhanced by $10{\mu}M$ cyclopiazonic acid(CPA) in the frequency and amplitude. Finally, regulation of $Ba^{2+}$-induced contraction was studied by FSK and ISO which are known as adenylyl cyclase activator and $\beta$-adrenergic receptor agonist, respectively. These drugs significantly suppressed the frequency and amplitude of $Ba^{2+}$-induced contraction(p<0.05). These results suggest that $Ba^{2+}$ produces phasic contraction in murine ureteral smooth muscle which can be regulated by FSK and $\beta$-adrenergic stimulation.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2015

Antenatal hydronephrosis (ANH) is one of the most common abnormal findings detected on prenatal ultrasound (US), and it has been reported in 1-5% of all pregnancies. The likelihood of significant postnatal pathologic abnormality in the urinary tract correlates with the degree of anterior-posterior diameter (APD) according to the gestational age. Detection of urologic anomalies prenatally permits fetal interventions that avoid complications in rare cases of bladder outlet obstruction with oligohydramnios even though their final benefits still remain controversial. There is no clear consensus on the extent and mode of postnatal imaging after a diagnosis of ANH. US is the mainstay of the postnatal evaluation and helps guide further testing with voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) and diuretic renography. Although most algorithms continue to recommend generous VCUG for identification of lower urinary tract anomalies, VCUG may be safely reserved for high grade ANH cases or any grade of ANH with dilated distal ureter without increasing the risk of urinary tract infection (UTI). There are conflicting studies about efficacy of postnatal prophylactic antibiotics. It still seems reasonable to consider use of a prophylactic antibiotic to prevent infant UTIs in high-risk populations, such as females and uncircumcised males with high grades of hydronephrosis, hydroureteronephrosis, or vesicouretral reflux.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 1999

Gastrodia elata (GE) is an oriental medicinal herb which has been used traditionally for the treatment of various brain diseases including convulsion and epilepsy. The purpose of this study was to determine pharmacokinetic parameters of 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (HMBA) and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (PHBA), constituents of GE, in rats. Male rats were cannulated in the femoral vein, femoral artery, bile duct and ureter. They received a single i.v. bolus dose of either HMBA or PHBA through the femoral vein. The concentration of HMBA or PHBA in plasma, bile and urine samples were analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC. HMBA and PHBA have very short half-lives, i.e. 4.03 and 2.26 minutes respectively. Most of HMBA and PHBA were thought to be eliminated through metabolism as the metabolized fraction approaches unity. Derivatives of HMBA or PHBA with longer biological half-lives should be designed to develop better anticonvulsants and more complete qualitative and quantitative understanding of the overall pharmacokinetic fate of these compounds awaits further investigation.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 2001

Gastrointestinal duplications are rare congenital malformation that may require surgical intervention in the neonate, infant, and occasionally the older child. Symptoms produced by duplications vary according to their location, size, type and histology. We report the clinical characteristics and the surgical results of 9 cases of the gastrointestinal duplications treated at at Asan Medical Center between 1989 and 2000. Five patients were boys and four were girls; age of patients ranged from 5 days to 10 years. Eight duplications were cystic and one was tubular. One involved the stomach; five were in the ileum, and two in the cecum. The most common presentation was intestinal obstruction. There was associated anomaly in one patient, pulmonary sequestration and double ureter. Ectopic gastric mucosa was found in two. All patients underwent surgical resection. There was no perioperative mortality or morbidity. Although gastrointestinal duplication is a rare entity. consideration of associated anomalies and being familiar with the anatomy and clinical features are required for adequate management. In cystic form. complete excision is recommended but planned surgery is required for long segment tubular lesion.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.148-155
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• 1995

Urinary cytology has become an essential element in the diagnosis and management of transitional ceil carcinoma(TCC) of the urinary tract. It has the advantage of being noninvasive, inexpensive, and easily accessible. Besides that it can even detect malignancy when unsuspected at cystoscopy. We report a retrospective review of urine cytology un the diagnosis of 83 TCC cases that underwent 295 cytologic evaluation. All patients had biopsy-proven TCC of the bladder, ureter and renal pelvis, The overall incidence of the positive cytology cases was 66.2%. To define the cytologic features of tumor cells, we tried to use three cytologic gradings such as "grade 1", "grade 2", and "grade 3" according to the cytologic degree of anaplastic neoplastic cells. These cytologic gades of TCC were relatively well correlated with the histologic grade and tumor invasiveness. This result suggests that the recognition of characteristic cellular features of TCC can suspect the histologic grade and tumor stage. The false negative TCC cases were 78.9%. They showed severe inflammatory or bloody background and a few neoplastic cells. Therefore, a cautious approach for accurate interpretation, personal experience, and proper fixation and processing could expand the role of urinary cytology.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.188-189
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• 2006

A 53-year -old man underwent $^{18}F$-FDG whole body PET/CT because of the detected liver mass on abdominal CT. The PET/CT showed a huge liver mass ($9{\times}9cm$, SUV: 12.12 ) in the right lobe and a focally hypermetabolic lesion in the right lower quadrant of abdomen (SUV: 9.12). At first, we suspected that the focal hypermetabolic lesion in RLQ was the physiologic uptake of ureter or a metastatic lesion of small bowel. We repeated the abdominal PET/CT next day. The focally hypermetabolic lesion was identified as the appendiceal mass. He underwent right hemicolectomy and right lobectomy of the liver. It was confirmed that the lesion was appendiceal adenocarcinoma with liver metastasis. Cancer of the appendix is an uncommon disease that is rarely suspected before surgery. But, we suggest that PET/CT is useful to identify the small lesion like appendiceal malignant mass.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.116-120
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• 2019

Bilateral renal obstruction is a rare critical condition, requiring a prompt diagnostic approach and treatment to restore the renal function. The most commonly observed obstructive uropathy in children is congenital malformation, such as posterior urethral valves and bilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Malignant pelvic masses obstructing the ureter are widely reported in adults but are rarely observed in children. The treatment of ureteral obstruction related to pelvic malignancy is a therapeutic challenge with a median survival duration of 3-7 months in adults; however, pediatric patients with pelvic malignancy leading to ureteral obstruction had better outcomes, with a reported 5-year mortality rate of 20%, than the adult patients. Here, we report a rare case of bilateral ureteral obstruction associated with pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma presenting with acute kidney injury treated by ureteral diversion with double J stent, and concommittent emergency hemodialysis, leading to restoration of good renal function. We suggest that bilateral ureteral obstruction should be released as soon as possible using surgical or interventional approach to minimize the obstruction period, and subsequential chemotherapy may contribute to improvement of survival and recovery of renal function.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.540-544
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• 2020

Unstable pelvis ring trauma can accompany urologic injuries such as bladder, ureter, or urethral injuries. In very rare cases, testicular dislocation can accompany a pelvic ring injury. Testicular dislocation causes pain, but can be regarded as the pain caused by pelvic ring injury. If not detected early, testicular dislocation may result in gangrenous testes. The authors report a case of pelvic ring injury with testicular dislocation.