BACKGROUND: Along with the recent greater number of medical devices for the elderly in the market, there has been a parallel increase in the number of clinical trials for these devices. It is uncertain, though, whether the target population has the awareness and understanding of these clinical trials and the possible adverse events of the devices. METHODS: A total of 147 elderly subjects (mean age, 65.8+/-8.3 years; 39 males) responded to the questionnaire. A pilot study during the development of the questionnaire was conducted in 2009 with the actual survey taking place from June to November 2011. The questionnaire included 22 items-10 items on awareness and understanding of the clinical trial; 4 items on the understanding of adverse events; and 8 items on demographical characteristics. RESULTS: Of the responders, 62.5% had participated in at least one clinical trial and had heard about the clinical trials through a doctor, newspaper, or television. And 63.3% of the responders understood that the purpose of the trial was to show efficacy and safety for the medical device. There were significant differences on the awareness of the trial by gender and life level. However, there was no statistically significant difference in adverse events awareness. CONCLUSION: Although elderly subjects participate in clinical trials, it seems they do not receive enough information when involved in clinical trials of medical devices. In the future, before these trials are carried out, medical device companies need to ensure that they provide their elderly subjects with better education and information.
Aged ; Dietary Sucrose ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Periodicals ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Pilot Projects ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Television

OBJECTIVE: We report here on two cases of pseudoaneurysms that were diagnosed using computed tomographic angiography (CTA), with one arising in the superficial temporal artery and the other arising in the occipital artery. METHODS: Case 1: A 29-year-old man presented with a slow growing, pulsatile mass on the left side of his forehead following a blow from a fist 10 days earlier. CTA revealed an 11 x 8 x 11-mm oval pseudoaneurysm arising from the frontal branch of the left superficial temporal artery. Case 2 : A 36-year-old man presented with a pulsatile mass in the right suboccipital region that had been present for the past year. He had no history of direct trauma. CTA revealed a 15 x 8 x 13-mm oval dye-filled sac arising from the right occipital artery. RESULTS: Based on the CTA images, the parent arteries were exposed and ligated proximally and distally to the pseudoaneurysms and then they were completely excised. CONCLUSION: CTA is a minimally invasive technique for making the diagnosis of scalp pseudoaneurysms and CTA is also useful for the preoperative planning.
Adult ; Aneurysm, False ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Forehead ; Humans ; Parents ; Scalp ; Temporal Arteries

Since the myofascial trigger point(MFTrP) has been described fifty years ago, its underlying pathophysiology has been remained unclear. The diagnosis also depends on the characteristic pain, tenderness and physical findin gs, which is yery subjective. In recent years, some physicians investigated the objective findings of MFTrP, using the pressure algometer and thermography. We investigated the electromyographic findings of MFTrP to evaluate the clinical usefulness of local twitch response(LTR) and sympathetic skin response (SSR), and to evaluate the electrophysiologic characteristics of MFTrP. 21 patients, diagnosed as myofascial trigger point syndrome on upper trapezius and so on, were evaluated for the triggering pain with visual analog scale(VAS), pressure threshold(THpr) using pressure algometer(Dolorimeter), LTP with concentric needle electrode and SSR on the palm. There was a significant negative correlation between VAS and THpr, but no significant correlation with electromyographic findings of LTR. Thus LTR could support the existence of MFTrP electrodiagnostically, but, could not explain the clinically correlated severity of MFTrP. There were only 3 patients showing abnormal SSR, who were all complaining the sympathetic sympathetic symptoms on the affected arm with reffered pain. Even though referred pain to arm and hand existed. SSR was normal because suggested autonomic dysfunction of MFTrP is localized mechanism. Among the 13 patients underwent the trigger point block, 8 patients who showed no residual LTR immediate after MFTrP block, had a great symptomatic improvement of MFTrP in a week, but 5 patients who showed the residual LTR did not, Regardless of complaint of pain and soreness immediate after block, loss of LTR would be predicted as a good treatment result. In some cases, spontaneous EMG activity exist within the 3-4mm sized focus of MFTrP. although the taut band of MFTrP is 3-4cm length and depth. But this focus of MFTrP is a electrophysiologic changes within a muscle, not a structural changes seen by ultrasonography.
Arm ; Diagnosis ; Electrodes ; Electromyography ; Hand ; Humans ; Needles ; Pain, Referred ; Skin ; Superficial Back Muscles ; Thermography ; Trigger Points* ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the usefulness of stretch reflex threshold speed (SRTS) in biomechanical assesment of spasticity of hemiplegic patients. METHOD: Thirty-eight hemiplegic patients and twenty-seven control subjects were studied. The spasticity of ankle plantar flexor muscles were assessed both clinically and biomechanically. Modified Ashworth scale (MAS) and Brunnstrom stage were used in clinical assessment. For biomechanical assessment, ankle plantar flexor muscles were stretched isokinetically while EMG signals were recorded simultaneously. SRTS was defined as a minimum angular velocity in which EMG signals evoked by stretch reflex were recorded. RESULTS: SRTSs of ankle plantar flexors were 128.1 47.1o/sec in control group, 163.7 79.7o/sec in intact legs, and 83.4 69.1o/sec in involved legs of hemiplegic group. STRS was significantly lower in involved legs of hemiplegic group than in intact legs of hemiplegic group and control group. Significant reverse correlation was observed between SRTS and MAS. There was significant difference in SRTS between MAS 0 group and other groups. The patients with Brunnstrom stage 3 and 4 groups showed decreased SRTS compared to the patients with other groups. CONCLUSION: SRTS is thought to reflect increased excitability of stretch reflex and seems to be one of useful parameters in quantitative assessment of spasticity.
Ankle ; Equidae ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Leg ; Muscle Spasticity* ; Muscles ; Reflex, Stretch*

No abstract available.
Porokeratosis*

No Abstract Available.
Hyperpigmentation*

No abstract available.
Herpes Simplex* ; Immunocompromised Host* ; Immunosuppression ; Simplexvirus*

BACKGROUND: Calcinosis cutis may occur when connective tissue is abnormal (dystrophic), or where calcium or phosphate levels in the blood are high(metastatic); alternatively, there may be no obvious underlying cause(idiopathic). The exact incidence of calcinosis cutis in dermatologic patients is not well-kniown and the pathomechanism of it remains to be elucidated. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to analyze the incidence, clinical and histopathological features of calcinosis cutis. METHODS: We studied 72 patients with calcinosis cutis who visited our department between January 1985 and December 1996. The patients were classified into 3 types (dystrophic, metastatic, and idiopathic) and were analyzed clinically and histopathologically. Results : The results were summerized as follows; 1. There were 60 cases(83.3%) and 12 cases(16.7%) of the dystrophic and idiopathic types, respectively but the metastatic type was not observed. The frequency of dystrophic calcification in individual disorders was 88.2% in pseudoxanthoma elasticum, 66.7% in trichilemmal cyst and dermatomyositis, and 64.6% in pilomatrichoma. 2. In the idiopathic type, it was common in females aged over 50 years and the mean duration of lesions was 2.8+/-2.0 years. The predilection site was the flank(5 cases) and most of the lesions(7 cases) showed skin-colored nodules 3. Histopathologically, calcified material of the idiopathic type was located predominently in the dermis(10 cases) and was present as large masses surrounded by a foreign body reaction. 4. In the dystrophic type, calcified deposits were noted predominently within the shadow cells of pilomatricoma, in the degenerated elastic fibers of pseudoxanthoma elasticum, and in the keratinized area of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, trichilemmal cyst, and epidermal cyst. Foreign body reactions with giant cells and mononuclear cell infiltrations were often found around large deposits of calcium. Conclusion : The incidence of calcinosis cutis in dermatologic patients is relatively low, but a variety of disorders can be associated with cutaneous calcification. Therefore, dermatologists should be familiar with the different forms of cutaneous calcification and the dermatoses that manifest them.
Calcinosis* ; Calcium ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Connective Tissue ; Dermatomyositis ; Elastic Tissue ; Epidermal Cyst ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pilomatrixoma ; Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum ; Skin Diseases

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Facial Dermatoses* ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Skin*

OBJECTIVE: To find out the incidence of reduced median conduction velocity of forearm (MNCV-F) in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and to compare clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics of CTS with reduced MNCV-F and to observe the changes of reduced MNCV-F after carpal tunnel release. METHOD: One hundred and fifty nine hands with CTS are divided into two groups; MNCV-F of 50 m/sec and above as group I and that of below 50 m/sec as group II. For the electrophysiologic comparison, median sensorimotor distal latency, peak-to-peak amplitudes and abnormal spontaneous activity of abductor pollicis brevis were observed and for clinical comparison, sensorimotor symptoms, Phalen and Tinel sign were observed. Twenty four hands which had successful carpal tunnel release were examined for the changes of MNCV-F. RESULTS: The hands with reduced MNCV-F were 29 among 159 hands. Sensorimotor distal latency were significantly prolonged and sensorimotor amplitudes also significantly reduced in group II. Sensory change and Phalen signs were more frequently observed in group II. MNCV-F in group I had not changed after carpal tunnel release, but MNCV-F in group II was improved significantly. The changes MNCV-F in group II were much delayed than the improvement of parameters of distal conduction studies. CONCLUSION: The incidence of reduced MNCV-F in CTS was 18.24%. Patients with reduced MNCV-F had more severe CTS both electrophysiologically and clinically. Reduced MNCV-F had improved significantly, but there was significant time gap between the electrophysiologic improvements of distal and proximal portions of nerve. This findings may suggest that retrograde degeneration may play a partial role in reduced forearm motor nerve conduction velocity of the median nerve in CTS.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* ; Forearm* ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Median Nerve* ; Neural Conduction ; Retrograde Degeneration