Endoscopic treatment of multiple prostatic calculi causing urinary retention

Although prostatic calculi are relatively common, the etiology of these stones is not clear. We report a case with multiple prostatic calculi causing urinary obstruction and a concomitant bladder stone. We treated these stones endoscopically. We found a lot of different sized stones endoscopically, some protruding into the urethra, some filling different cavities on the prostate. So these cavities suggest prostatic calculi may occur related to intraprostatic reflux in the congenital or acquired diverticulum of the prostatic tissue. In addition, the stone composition of the bladder and prostatic stones was the same. All of these results show that the origin of bladder and prostatic stones can be the same. This case also supports a theory of intraprostatic reflux and urine stasis.     

Value of the urinary uric acid to creatinine ratio in term infants with perinatal asphyxia

The diagnosis of perinatal asphyxia is often inexact and present techniques for assessing its severity are unsatisfactory. The purpose of this study was to describe prospectively the value of the urinary uric acid to creatinine (UA/Cr) ratio in showing increased uric acid excretion in early spot urine samples for the identification of perinatal asphyxia, and to assess the relationship between the urinary UA/Cr ratio and the severity of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Twenty-seven fullterm infants with perinatal asphyxia were compared with 40 healthy controls. The UA/Cr ratio was higher in the asphyxiated group when compared with controls (2.11 ± 0.83 vs 0.72 ± 0.39 P < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a correlation between the UA/Cr ratio and the severity of the encephalopathy (r = 0.84; P < 0.001). The UA/Cr ratio was found to be a good, simple screening test for the early assessment of perinatal asphyxia     

Efficacy and Safety of Short-Pulse Erbium:YAG Laser in the Treatment of Acquired Melanocytic Nevi

BACKGROUND: Various laser systems have been used in the treatment of acquired melanocytic nevi. However, CO2 lasers may cause scarring, and some nevi cannot be removed with pigment-specific lasers completely. To date, no study has evaluated the efficacy and safety of an erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) laser, with its small penetration depth and fewer adverse effects, in the treatment of acquired melanocytic nevi. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of the short-pulse erbium:YAG laser in the treatment of acquired melanocytic nevi. METHODS: The study included 28 nevi in 14 patients. The lesions were pigmented, flat, or just palpable nevi. Nevi were irradiated with single-pulse laser energy of 1,000 mJ and a pulse duration of 300 microseconds. Fluences between 5.2 and 14.4 J/cm2 were used. Four months following laser treatment, the entire lesion was excised. Each specimen was histopathologically and immunohistochemically examined for the presence of nevus cells. RESULTS: Clinically, all of the nevi and, histopathologically, 27 of 28 nevi (96%) were completely removed without scarring. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation was seen in two patients and hypopigmentation in three patients. CONCLUSIONS: Short-pulse erbium:YAG laser treatment is an effective and safe method for removing acquired melanocytic nevi.