Peyronie＇s disease： a silent consequence of diabetes mellitus

Aim： To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with Peyronie＇s disease （PD） and diabetes mellitus （DM）. Methods： During an 8-year period, a total of 307 men seen at our outpatient clinic were diagnosed with PD. Clinical characteristics, penile deformities and the erectile status of patients with PD and DM together （n = 102） were retrospectively analyzed and compared to patients with PD alone with no risk factors for systemic vascular diseases （n = 97）. Results：The prevalence of PD among men with DM and sexual dysfunction was 10.7 %. The mean age of diabetic patients with PD was （55.9 ± 8.9） years; in the no risk factor group it was （48.5 ± 9.0） years （P 〈 0.05）. The median duration of DM was 5 years. The majority of diabetic patients with PD （56.0 %） presented in the chronic phase （P 〈 0.05）, and they were more likely to have a severe penile deformity （〉 60°） than the no risk factor group （P 〈 0.05）. In the diabetic group, the most common presenting symptom was penile curvature （81.4%）, followed by a palpable nodule on the shaft of the penis （22.5%） and penile pain with erection （14.7%）. A total of 19.6% of patients were not aware of their penile deformities in the diabetic group. Erectile function, provided by history and in response to intracavernosal injection and a stimulation test, was significantly diminished in patients with PD and DM （P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion： DM probably exaggerates the fibrotic process in PD. Diabetic patients with PD have a higher risk of severe deformity and erectile dysfunction （ED）. PD seems to be a silent consequence of DM and should be actively sought in diabetic men. （Asian JAndrol 2006 Jan; 8： 75-79）     

Surgical treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms associated with horseshoe kidney

Abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery associated with a horseshoe kidney (HSK) is a serious technical challenge for the surgeon. We reviewed our experience with 127 patients electively operated on between 1990 and 2004 for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Pre- and perioperative medical, surgical, and radiologic data were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative diagnosis was achieved with computed tomography with or without angiography or with additional conventional aortography.Seven patients were recognized to have had a HSK, with a mean age of 67.29 +/- 2.43 years. Preoperative serum creatinine levels were similar in patients with or without HSK (1.0 +/- 0.08 vs 0.9 +/- 0.12 mg/dL; not significant). In five of the patients with HSK, reimplantation of the anomalous renal artery was necessary. In all 127 patients, hospital mortality consisted of 5 patients, none of whom had an HSK. Dealing with HSK seemed to increase aortic clamp times (30.43 +/- 3.55 vs 27.04 +/- 3.92 minutes; p < .05) slightly. Patients with or without HSK were given similar amounts of intravenous fluid replacement (2,214.2 +/- 441.3 vs 1,923.3 +/- 433.6 mL/patient; not significant) and allogeneic blood transfusion (0.71 +/- 0.49 vs 0.9 +/- 0.4 U/patient; not significant) and had a similar intensive care unit stay.Abdominal aortic aneurysms associated with HSK have been managed without division of the isthmic tissue. The left retroperitoneal approach provided adequate exposure for all patients with HSK.     

Serum amyloid A (SAA) in induced sputum of asthmatics: a new look to an old marker

BACKGROUND: Some cellular and soluble markers of inflammation in induced sputum have been used for studying airway inflammation in asthma. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of systemic inflammation marker serum amyloid A (SAA) in blood and induced sputum to monitor the airway inflammation in asthmatic patients. METHOD: Seventeen non-smokers newly diagnosed mild to moderate asthmatic patients and 10 healthy volunteers were included in this prospective parallel designed study. Inflammatory cell counts, SAA and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels were measured in sera and induced sputum of both groups. All tests were repeated in the asthma group after 6 months of inhaled steroid therapy. The diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility of sputum and blood SAA were estimated. RESULTS: Serum and induced sputum SAA and ECP levels, sputum eosinophils and neutrophils of untreated asthmatic patients were significantly greater compared to the control group. Sputum and sera SAA levels and sputum neutrophils remained unchanged after the 6 months of anti-inflammatory therapy, although ECP levels, sputum eosinophils and macrophages were significantly reduced. The area under the curve (AUC) for sputum SAA was found equal to AUC for sputum ECP (0.87). The reproducibility of sputum SAA was satisfactory (ICC=0.84) as well. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that systemic inflammatory marker SAA may be used as a reliable inflammatory marker in asthma. The facts that whether it remarks an ongoing inflammation unresponsive to treatment in the airways or reflects a systemic inflammation needs to be clarified with further studies.     

Should high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia change our approach to infravesical obstruction?

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether coexistence of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HPIN) should change our therapeutic approach to infravesical obstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Of 505 patients who underwent sextant transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy, 65 (12.8%) had HPIN and 29 of them underwent prostatectomy (23 transurethral resection of prostate (TURP), 6 open) due to obstructive urinary symptoms. Patients without carcinoma were followed up with semiannual prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination. After a follow-up of 24.8 +/- 11.0 months, 19 of 29 patients who accepted our call had another sextant biopsy. RESULTS: Mean age and initial mean PSA values of 29 patients were 67.6 +/- 6.7 years and 9.26 +/- 5.91 ng/ml, respectively. The final pathological evaluation of the surgical specimens revealed 2 prostatic adenocarcinomas both in the TURP group. The remaining 27 (93.2%) patients were found to have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and their serum PSA levels declined from 9.26 +/- 5.91 to 4.59 +/- 2.0 ng/ml 3 months after prostatectomy. Of the 19 patients who had another biopsy with a mean PSA value of 4.06 +/- 4.61 ng/ml, 15 and 4 of them had BPH and HPIN respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary data indicate that the presence of HPIN on TRUS-guided biopsies is not a factor to delay an indicated surgical intervention for infravesical obstruction.     

Repair of chronic mallet finger deformity using Mitek micro arc bone anchor

Surgical correction of chronic mallet finger caused by terminal tendon disruption was carried out in 22 patients. The distal stump of the tendon was fixed to the base of the distal phalanx with a Mitek micro arc bone anchor. In all patients the mallet finger deformity was corrected. There were 15 patients with excellent results, 5 with good results, and 2 with fair results. None of the patients had a poor result. No further treatment was needed. The Mitek micro arc bone anchor system is a reliable alternative for the treatment of chronic mallet finger deformity without proximal interphalangeal hyperextension.     

Refinements of medial plantar flap used for covering nonweightbearing ankle and posterior heel defects requiring thin flaps

We present our clinical experiences with the refinements that we applied to avoid circular flap contraction and achieve thin flap coverage in the reconstruction of posterior heel and tendocalcaneal skin defects with medial plantar flap. Eight male patients, aged 18 to 35 (mean 24 years), with nonweightbearing skin defects, were treated with refined medial plantar flaps. All flaps survived and no circulation problem was encountered. The flaps adapted well to the recipient area, and thin and well-contoured skin coverage was achieved by postoperative month 6. As a conclusion, it is possible to reconstruct the nonweightbearing defects needing thin flap by medial plantar flap with adding refinements: (1) adding triangles around the flap, (2) harvesting a thin flap by excluding the thick plantar fascia, (3) harvesting a further thin flap by defatting of the flap, (4) application of pressure to the flap.     

evaluation of communication between intracranial arachnoid cysts and cisterns with phase-contrast cine MR imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The demonstration of communication between arachnoid cysts (ACs) and the adjacent subarachnoid space is a prerequisite for their proper management. CT cisternography (CTC) is the conventional method for functional evaluation of ACs. The sensitivity of MR imaging to CSF flow has been demonstrated, but reports of the clinical usefulness of MR CSF flow techniques in this application are limited. The purpose of our study was to prospectively evaluate the accuracy of MR CSF flow study as an alternative to CTC in this setting. METHODS: MR CSF flow study with retrospective ECG-gated 2D, fast low-angle shot, phase-contrast (PC), cine gradient-echo sequence was performed in 39 patients with an intracranial AC. Results were compared with intraoperative and CTC findings. RESULTS: PC cine MR imaging results were compatible with operative or CTC findings in 36 (92.3%) of 39 patients. Twenty-four cysts were noncommunicating, and 15 were communicating. Three cysts were evaluated as being noncommunicating on PC cine MR imaging (false-negative) but demonstrated contrast enhancement on CTC. No false-positive diagnoses occurred. All cysts regarded as being communicating on PC cine MR imaging were also found to be communicating on both confirmation methods. CONCLUSION: MR CSF flow imaging with a PC cine sequence can be incorporated in the imaging work-up of ACs. This is a reliable alternative to invasive CTC for the functional evaluation of ACs.     

Correlation between clinical findings and the "tombstoning" electrocardiographic pattern in patients with anterior wall acute myocardial infarction

The tombstoning electrocardiographic pattern of a particular kind of ST-segment change, as observed in some patients during the early stages of acute myocardial infarction, is well known to be of prognostic value. However, little is understood of the causes and the relations of these changes. This study of 106 patients showed that in patients with tombstoning electrocardiographic patterns, infarction size is larger; left ventricular ejection fraction and preinfact angina are lower, and in-hospital complications are higher.     

Appendicular metastasis from pancreatic adenocarcinoma

We present a 78-yr-old man with appendicular metastases from pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Barium enema X-ray showed incomplete filling of a distended appendix in a patient with abdominal discomfort. Colonoscopic evaluation revealed firm nodules in appendicular orifice. Histopathological examination of the nodule in the appendix revealed a metastatic adenocarcinoma. Abdominal computed tomography showed a low-density mass in the body of the pancreas. Endoscopic ultrasonography disclosed a hypoechoic mass in the body of the pancreas. Appendicular metastasis is extremely rare. To our knowledge, this is the second case of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas metastatic to the appendix in English language literature. A brief review of relevant literature is presented.