BACKGROUND: With the rapid increase in the elderly population and the ensuing increase in osteoporosis and subsequent fractures, there has been a rise in socioeconomic costs. This study evaluated the relationship between osteoporosis and physical function in 66-year-old Korean women. METHODS: All of the 193 Korean women aged 66 years were recruited from life-transition health examinations from May to December, 2007. Background information was collected through a self-administered questionnaire; and height, weight, and waist circumference were measured. Bone mineral density of the lumbar spine was measured with the Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry and the 'timed up and go (TUG)' and 'one-leg balance (OLB)' tests were administered. Risk factors for osteoporosis were analyzed by correlation coefficients and binary logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of osteoporosis for 66-year-old women was 25.9%. A short stature and lower body mass index (BMI) were associated with osteoporosis of the lumbar spine. A longer time to complete the TUG test (>10 second) was associated with a 4-time higher prevalence of lumbar osteoporosis, which was not observed with the OLB test. CONCLUSIONS: One out of four 66-year-old Korean women had osteoporosis. A longer TUG time, short stature, and lower BMI were associated with osteoporosis.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Osteoporosis ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Spine ; Waist Circumference

BACKGROUND: It has been a standard practice in many institutions to combine light general anesthesia with epidural block for abdominal and pelvic surgery. We attempted to prove the effectiveness of prehydration and to find an suitable epidural local anesthetic dose in terms of hemodynamic stability for upper abdominal surgery. METHODS: For preliminary studies, 11 patients scheduled for elective upper abdominal surgery had received general anesthesia immediately after epidural anesthesia. After epidural injection of 10~16 mL of 2% plain lidocaine into the T9~10 intervertebral space, the changes in blood pressure were observed. Thirty-two patients scheduled for elective upper abdominal surgery were divided into two groups. In group A (study group), after prehydration with Hartmann solution (10 mL/kg), 5~7 mL of 2% plain lidocaine was injected into T8~9 or T9~10 intervertebral space and general anesthesia was then induced. Group B (control group) received general anesthesia only. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in hemodynamics between the epidural with general anesthesia and the control group except SVR (systemic vascular resistance). SVR in group A increased in contrast to the group B in which it remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: The combined epidural and general anesthesia, using prehydration and 0.5~1 mL/segment of 2% plain lidocaine at the T8~9 or T9~10 intervertebral space was safe without significant hemodynamic changes.
Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, General* ; Blood Pressure ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Lidocaine

No abstract available.
Child* ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Skin Tests* ; Skin*

Conegenital anomalies of the ribs are common but rarely result in shadow which might be mistaken forpathological lesions. Careful inspection of the bony parts, which should be a routine, will usually be sufficientto avoid mistakes. Authors reviewed 6,921(5,865 male, 1,056 female) chest P-A films in adult (older than 16years), and radiolographic findings of congenital anomalies of the ribs were analized. The result were as follows;1. Congenital anomalies of the ribs were present in 193 patients. The incidence of congenital anomalies of theribs were 2.7% in male, 3.3% in female. 2. Among the 193 cases of congenital rib anomalies, 7 cases(0.1%) ofcervical ribs, 31 cases (0.4%) of underdeveloped ribs, 81 cases (1.2%) of anterior bifurcation, 34 cases (0.5%) ofbroadned ribs, 19 cases (0.3) of complete fusion and 21 cases (0.3%) of pseudathrosis were included. 3. 11.4% ofthe cases were bilateral, and right to left was 4:3 in unilateral involvement. 4. The location of the ribanomalies were as follows; (1) Underdeveloped ribs; 1st rib 31 case (79.5%), 2nd rib 3 cases(7.7%), 4th rib 3cases(7.7%), 5th rib 2 cases(5.1%). (2) Anterior bifurcation; 3rd rib 37 cases. 4th rib 29 cases, 5th rib 12cases, 6th rib 6cases, 2nd rib 2 cases. (3) Broadened ribs; 3rd 17 cases, 4th rib 15 cases, 5th rib 4 cases, 2ndrib 1 case. (4) Complete fusion; 1st-2nd rib 13 cases (68.4%), 5-6th ribs 4 cases (21.0%), 4-5th ribs 1case(5.3%), 6-7 ribs 1case(5.3%). The fusion occur in the posterior portion of 1st-2nd and 4-5th ribs,and in theposterior portion of 5-6th and 6-7ribs. (5) Pseudarthrosis; 1st-2nd and 2nd-3rd ribs, and in the posterior portionof 3-4th, 4-5 and 5-6th ribs. 5. In the cases of anterior bifurcation, the rib bifurcates almost in its anterior2.1-5.0 cm and most common in 3.1-4.0cm. 6. The characteristic radiographic findings in anterior bifurcation wereas follow;
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Pseudarthrosis ; Ribs ; Thorax

We had a retrospective study for taumatic fracture of spines with simple X-ray and CT. During the period of 2years from June 1983, the radiological and clinical evaluation had been made on 36 patients suffered from traumatic fracture of spines which were confiremd by the radilgocial examination. The results were as follows; 1.Among 36 patients, single spinal injury was 26 cases(72.2%), multiple level injuries was 10 cases(27.7%). 2. Levelof spinal injuries were as follows; Most frequent site was thoracolumbar junction (T11-L2) in 19 cases(52.7%), andlower cervical spine(C3-C7) in 9 cases(25%). 3. Simple fracture was in 15 cases(41.6%), burst fractures was in 21cases(58%). Neurologic symptoms were appeared in 11 cases(52%) in 21 cases of burst fractures. 4. Manifestationsof spinal canal narrowing: 2 of 15 cases in simple fracture, all of 21 cases of burst fractures,and we were foundexactly posterior element fractures with CT, which were difficult to detect with simple X-ray film. 5. Multiplanar reconstruction images were more favorable to detect the distraction of facet joint, fracture through the vertebralendplate, subluxation and kyphosis, which were difficult to detect with axial CT images.
Humans ; Kyphosis ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Fractures ; Spinal Injuries ; Spine ; X-Ray Film ; Zygapophyseal Joint

Purpose: To define and evaluate the short-term clinical outcomes of the four-flanged technique for scleral fixation of a dislocated four-eyelet intraocular lens (IOL). Methods: Eleven eyes of 11 patients who underwent scleral fixation of dislocated four-eyelet intraocular lenses using a four-flanged technique were studied retrospectively. We measured the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), corneal endothelial cell density, intraocular pressure (IOP), spherical equivalent, astigmatism, IOL tilt and decentration, and postoperative complications. Results: The BCVA was 0.25 ± 0.11 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) before surgery and 0.14 ± 0.12 logMAR 6 months later (p < 0.001). The corneal endothelial cell count was 2,427 ± 384 and 2,367 ± 298/mm2 before and after surgery, respectively (p = 0.285). The spherical equivalent was 6.02 ± 4.90 and 0.11 ± 0.36 before and after surgery, respectively. There was no significant difference in astigmatism before and after surgery. The mean IOL tilt and decentration were 2.44 ± 1.68° and 0.23 ± 0.09 mm, respectively. The refractive difference was 0.11 ± 0.24 diopters (D). Postoperative complications occurred in one eye; one flange lay outside the scleral tunnel, triggering hyperemia and conjunctival inflammation. Conclusions The four-flanged scleral fixation technique for a dislocated four-eyelet IOL improved the BCVA but did not significantly affect corneal endothelial cell loss. The procedure significantly reduced postoperative IOL tilt, decentration, and astigmatism, and may be a useful alternative to scleral fixation of a dislocated four-eyelet IOL.

BACKGROUND: Cicletanine bydrochloride is a newly developed anti-hypertensive agent. The presence of a furopyridine group characterizes its uncommon chemical structure as an antihypertensive molecule. This clinical trial was performed to confirm the efficacy and safety of cicletanine for the treatment of hypertension as a monotherapy. METHODS: In order to investigate the efficacy and safety of oral cicletanine, a now class of antihypertensive durgs, the furopyridines, on essential hypertension, a single daily dose of 50mg to 100mg cicletanine was administered in 46 hypertensive patients with diastolic blood pressure in the range of 95mmHg-115mmHg. The patients were asked to cut off other anti hypertensive agents for 10 weeks prior to this clinical trial. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured every 4 weeks. The complete blood count, blood chemistry done by SMA-12, serum electrolytes and urinalysis were performed at the 12th week of therapy. RESULTS: 1) Baseline blood pressures after 2 weeks of placebo at sitting and standing positions were 158.7+/-16.1/102.9+/-6.2 and 148.7+/-14.5/102.7+/-6.7mmHg, respectively. The overall slope which represents the tendency of blood pressure decline over the treatment period with cicletanine for all the patients in each position are as follows ; -0.726(SE : 0.150) for sitting systolic blood pressure(BP), -0.390(SE : 0.080) for sitting diastolic BP, -0.214(SE : 0.183) for standing systolic BP and -0.341(SE : 0.139) for standing diastolic BP. 2) The slope of sitting systolic BP line in cicletanine 100mg treated group was significantly stiffer than that of cicletanine 50mg treated group(-0.445 vs -1.021, p=0.0336). 3) There were no significant interval changes in heart rate over the treatment period. 4) There were no significant interval changes in blood chemistry, electrolytes, hematologic findings and urinalysis over the treatment period. 5) Several side effects were observed in six patients(epigastric discomfort in 4, easy fatigue and insomnia in one patient, respectively). CONCLUSION: Treatment with cicletanine was well-tolerated and the incidence of side effects was relatively low. Because of its unique anti-hypertensive mechanism and moderated antihypertensive effects, cicletanine may be well suited in the treatment of hypertension combined with other classes of antihypertensive agents.
Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Cell Count ; Blood Pressure ; Chemistry ; Electrolytes ; Fatigue ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Urinalysis

No abstract available.
Humans ; Twins*

Polymyalgia rheumatica is characterized by pain and stiffness of the shoulder and pelvic girdles, morning stiffness, constitutional symptoms and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. We have experienced a 45-year-old female patient with polymyalgia rheumatica who presented with pain and stiffness of the shoulder and pelvic girdle, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and dramatic response to low-dose steroids. To our knowledge, thes is the second case of polymyalgia rheumatica with a brief review of literature.
Blood Sedimentation ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Polymyalgia Rheumatica* ; Shoulder ; Steroids

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We compared the accuracy in the diagnosis of hepatic masses such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), metastasis and hemangioma using enhancing pattern alone with using additional findings, and determined whether the additional findings could improve the diagnostic accuracy. METHODS/MATERIALS: Triphasic spiral CT images were retrospectively analyzed in 83 cases of hepatic lesions,' 40 HCC, 21 metastases, and 22 hemangiomas. Three observers made the diagnosis first by the enhancement pattern of the mass alone, and then, by the whole information. The diagnosis of a lesion was considered correct if the lesion was correctly categorized by at least two observers. Diagnostic accuracies of two sessions were compared with McNemar test. RESULTS: Using enhancing patterns alone, 31/40 HCC (78%), 8/21 metastases (38%), 21/22 hemangiomas (95%) were correctly diagnosed. The frequency of correct diagnosis was significantly improved when all images with additional findings were used: 36/40 (90%) HCC, 20/21 (95%) metastases, 22/22 (100%) hemangiomas (P=0.00006). Metastasis showed most prominent and statistically significant improvement in the diagnostic accuracy (P=0.0004). The number of correct diagnoses for HCC increased without statistical significance (P=0.17). However, the images with additional findings did not significantly contribute to the diagnosis of hemangiomas. The additional finidngs those led to correct diagnosis of metastases were multiple mass (7 cases), coexistence of primary malignancy (6 cases), and metastasis to other organ (1 case). The findings of liver cirrhosis were helpful to diagnose HCC correctly in 5 cases. CONCLUSION: The enhancing pattems of tumors were important in the diagnosis of hepatic masses in spiral CT. However, the additional finidngs were also helpful for the diagnosis of hepatic masses especially for the masses with atypical enhancement pattern. In metastases, the additional findings such as multiple masses or detection of primary malignant focus were useful to diagnose correctly.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Diagnosis ; Hemangioma ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Spiral Computed*