Fracture of the occipital condyle is rare. We report the case of a patient with this fracture who presented with negative plain films and delayed hypoglossal nerve palsy. Diagnosis was estabilished with high resolution computed tomography. In a trauma patient with neck or occipital pain, with or without cranial nerve palsy, this fracture should be considered, even if a plain radiograph is negative.
Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases* ; Hypoglossal Nerve* ; Neck

By implementing epoch-making policies for industrial promotion, the national economy has made a remarkable development. As a result of such economic growth, industrial accidents and occupational diseases have become a serious problem in Korean society. In the presidential order for the execution of the Korean Labor Standard Law, neuritis and other diseases stemming from health impairments due to vibrations in industrial processes are designated to be dealt with as vibration diseases. In the case of vibration disease, industrial accident compensation is not effectively paid. In order to investigate the vibration hazards of rock-drill operation, the authors studied the subjective symptoms and performed physical function tests on a total of 79 persons (vibration exposed group) who used rock-drills, and 39 persons (control group) who did not use rock-drills at anthracite mines. The results of the physical function test were as follows : 1. The right hand was more affected by white finger than the left hand. 2. Independent variables such as duration of rock-drill operation, age, drinking and smoking were identified as statistically significant factors for the occurrence of white finger. 3. In the pain sense threshold, the group with Raynaud's phenomenon showed a statistically higher level than that of the control group. 4. The skin temperature of the group with Raynaud's phenomenon was lower than that of the control group. The recovery time of skin temperature after cooling was delayed compared with the value of the control group.
Accidents, Occupational ; Coal* ; Compensation and Redress ; Drinking ; Economic Development ; Fingers ; Hand ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Neuritis ; Occupational Diseases ; Skin Temperature* ; Skin* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vibration

The effect and mechanism of drugs for the recovery of motor function after acute spinal cord injury has not yet been fully elucidated. This study was aimed to examine the effect of cyclosporin(CsA) on the recovery of motor function and its accompanying histopathological changes in the spinal cord injury model. A certain range of spinal cord injury was made with NYU weight-drop impactor. Injured rats were divided into 3 groups; control(castor oil) group(group A), two CsA treated groups(40mg/kg, i.p.) at 10min(group B) or 4hour(group C) after cord injury. Locomon test was done using BBB(Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan) locomotion rating scale. After the locomotion test which has been done for 14 days after cord injury, group B,C showed improved motor function compared to group A. Especally, remarkable motor function recovery was noted in group C. Immunohistochemical stain was made to examine histological change after cord injury. Spinal cord injury produced by NYU impactor was quite reproducible in parameters of the magnitude of trauma, the extent of tissue damage, and neural dysfunction measured in this study. In the immunohistochemical study, moreover, increased number of neurofilament and decreased number of macrophage were found in the group of CsA treated 4 hours after cord injury. These results indicate that CsA improves motor function after cord injury, and suggest that some actions of CsA on calcineurin, expression of surface markers or macrophage may contribute to these effects.
Animals ; Calcineurin ; Cyclosporine* ; Locomotion ; Macrophages ; Rats* ; Recovery of Function ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord*

PURPOSE: Fracture of the distal radius is one of the most common fractures encountered in the emergency room. The incidence of distal radius fracture has increased substantially according to several studies that estimated the overall incidence in various general populations. However, there is a paucity of epidemiological data regarding distal radius fracture in Korea. The aim of this study was to estimate the epidemiology and seasonal variance of incidence of distal radius fractures in the Korean population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records and radiographs of the 432 patients who visited the emergency room for distal radius fractures from January 2012 to December 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. Authors analyzed the epidemiologic parameters including age, gender, injury mechanism, fracture classification, combined fracture, treatment method and monthly incidence. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients at the time of injury was 53 years (41.6 years in 171 men, 64.5 years in 261 women). The highest incidence in age distribution was the sixth and seventh decade (45.2%) and male to female ratio was 1.0:2.5. Most fractures (78.4%) were caused by a lower energy fall and the most common combined fractures were the ulnar styloid fracture (38.6%). According to the AO classification, 54.5% were type A, 14.5% were type B and 31.0% were type C and 39.2% of the patient underwent surgery for treatment. The incidence of fracture began to rise in November (12.1%) and peaked in December (14.2%). CONCLUSION: This study examined the epidemiology and seasonal variance of incidence of distal radius fractures from the patient records of a single University hospital. The epidemiological data gathered in this study could be added to our knowledge of distal radius fractures in the Korean population, thus it enables the Korean surgeon to determine the best management for individual patients.
Age Distribution ; Classification ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Korea ; Male ; Medical Records ; Radius Fractures* ; Radius* ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons*

Insulin resistance is characterized by an impaired physiological response to insulin. The constellation of insulin resistance, and several other metabolic and vascular disorders, is known as the insulin resistance syndrome, or metabolic syndrome. The characteristic features of metabolic syndrome include; central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and glucose intolerance, and abnormalities in both the endothelial cells and vascular function. Several studies have shown that insulin resistance is a predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD). Recent studies have described relationships between the entire constellation of components in metabolic syndrome and the risk of CAD. The increasing prevalence of the insulin resistance syndrome, and its strong association with risk of CAD, has highlighted the potential importance of its early diagnosis and aggressive treatment. The managements of metabolic syndrome include lifestyle interventions, aggressive treatment of the identified CAD risk factors, and the treatments of abnormal glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. The connection between insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and coronary disease must be recognized, and it is important not only to manage the obviously apparent CAD risk factors, but also to identify and manage other sought factors.
Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Disease ; Dyslipidemias ; Early Diagnosis ; Endothelial Cells ; Glucose ; Glucose Intolerance ; Hypertension ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Life Style ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

Although glucose-lowering treatment shows some risk lowering effects in cardiovascular diseases, risks of macrovascular and microvascular complications have still remained, and development of new therapeutic strategies is needed. Recent data have shown that peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of lipid homeostasis, fatty acid oxidation, cellular differentiation, and immune response such as inflammation or vascularization related to diabetic complication. This review will re-examine the metabolic role of PPAR-alpha, summarize data from clinical studies on the effect of PPAR-alpha agonist in diabetes, and will discuss the possible therapeutic role of PPAR-alpha activation.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diabetes Complications ; Fibric Acids ; Homeostasis ; Inflammation ; PPAR alpha*

Although glucose-lowering treatment shows some risk lowering effects in cardiovascular diseases, risks of macrovascular and microvascular complications have still remained, and development of new therapeutic strategies is needed. Recent data have shown that peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of lipid homeostasis, fatty acid oxidation, cellular differentiation, and immune response such as inflammation or vascularization related to diabetic complication. This review will re-examine the metabolic role of PPAR-alpha, summarize data from clinical studies on the effect of PPAR-alpha agonist in diabetes, and will discuss the possible therapeutic role of PPAR-alpha activation.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diabetes Complications ; Fibric Acids ; Homeostasis ; Inflammation ; PPAR alpha*

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have reported an association between circadian preference and personality. Defense mechanism is unconscious ego process which deals with an individual's anxiety and is closely associated with one's personality. Our aim is to investigate the association between defense mechanism and circadian preference in medical students. METHODS: One hundred forty eight medical students (70 males, 78 females), aged 22 to 30, answered the Beck Depression Inventory-II, Morningness-eveningness Questionnaire, and Korean version of Defense Style Questinnaire. RESULTS: Consumption (beta=-0.262, p=0.001) and being a male (beta=0.175, p=0.031) were significant positive predictors of eveningness, while sublimation (beta=0.185, p=0.023) was a significant negative predictor of eveningness. CONCLUSION: Our study showed a relationship between specific defense mechanisms (i.e., consumption and sublimation) and eveningness in medical students, but it did not address whether the relationship is a causal one.
Anxiety ; Defense Mechanisms ; Depression ; Ego ; Humans ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Students, Medical* ; Sublimation*

New-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) is a common complication of solid-organ transplantation. As long-term posttransplant survival continues to improve, increasing attention has been placed on NODAT. Because NODAT is a potent predictor of graft failure and cardiovascular mortality in the transplant population, early detection and management of NODAT are important issues. The risk factors for NODAT in transplant recipients include older age, obesity, family history, hepatitis C virus infection, and immunosuppressive agents, such as corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors. Management of NODAT must be considered at the pretransplantation stage to screen high risk patients and prevent NODAT. Although NODAT management is similar to type 2 diabetes management in the general population, there are some specific considerations in NODAT management, including the immunosuppressive agent. Further studies are needed to suggest optimal management guidelines for NODAT.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Calcineurin ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Hepacivirus ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Obesity ; Organ Transplantation ; Postoperative Complications ; Risk Factors ; Transplants ; Treatment Outcome

We present a case of Brown-Sequard syndrome due to a massive cervical disc herniation at C5/6 level, presenting sings of sudden and severe spinal cord compression. The lesion was diagnosed by MRI and herniated cervical disc was removed under the surgical microscope via anterior route. The result of operation was good. A brief review of the literature is given.
Brown-Sequard Syndrome* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Spinal Cord Compression