OBJECTIVE: To investigate the dose-related effect of trunk control training (TCT) using Trunk Stability Rehabilitation Robot Balance Trainer (TSRRBT) in chronic stroke patients with poor sitting balance. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 38 chronic stroke patients with poor sitting balance that underwent TCT with TSRRBT. The participants were assigned either to the low-dose training (LDT) group (n=18) or to the highdose training (HDT) group (n=20). In addition to the conventional rehabilitation therapy, the LDT group received 5 sessions of TSRRBT intervention per week, whereas the HDT group received 10 sessions of TSRRBT intervention per week. The outcome measures were the scores on the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) and its subscales, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC), and the Korean version of Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI). All outcome measures were assessed before the training and at the end of the 4-week training. RESULTS: After the 4-week intervention, TIS, BBS, FAC, and K-MBI scores showed improvement in both LDT and HDT groups. Furthermore, the improvements in TIS scores and its subscales were significantly greater in the HDT group than in the LDT group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TCT using TSRRBT could be an additional treatment for the conventional rehabilitation therapy of chronic stroke patients with poor sitting balance. HDT may provide more beneficial effects on improving patients’ sitting balance than LDT.
Biofeedback, Psychology ; Classification ; Humans ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Rehabilitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke* ; Video Games* ; Walking

BACKGROUND: There are only a few studies regarding the causes of treatment failure for tuberculosis. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the causes of intractable tuberculosis. METHODS: M.tuberculosis, differentiated MOTT (Tycobacterium Other Than Tuberculosis) were isolated, and the RFLP (Restriction fragments length polymorphisms) pattern was analyzed from 204 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 53 suffering from neck tuberculosis. The IL-1β, IL-12, *1 IFNγ and *2 TNFαblood levels were measured. All patients were regularly followed for 18 months after treatment. RESULTS: There was no correlation between the RFLP patterns of M.tuberculosis treatment failure. From the 204 cases, 31.9% were intractable. The characteristics of patients with intractable tuberculosis were old age, being male and recurrent cases. The causes of treatment failure were identified as follows ; a decrease in the IL-12(59.4%) concentration, drug resistant strain(54.7%), irregular medication(15.4%), MOTT(6.2%) and a heavy infection(4.6%). The causes of all cases of intractable tuberculosis could be investigated. The IL-12 concentration in the blood was significantly lower in the intractable cases, where it disclosed a maximum sensitivity(64.7%) and specificity(75.4%) at 165.0 pg/ml. Most of the 53 cases on neck node tuberculosis were treated successfully. Therefore, we were unable to analyze the cause of treatment failure. CONCLUSION: A decrease in the blood IL-12 concentration and drug resistant strains were identified as the most significant causes of treatment failure for tuberculosis. In Korea, infection by clusters were prevalent, but no difference in the clinical course between clusters and non-clusters could be found.
Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; Korea ; Male ; Neck* ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Treatment Failure* ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Few studies have investigated the prognosis of non-gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) under the modified National Institutes of Health (NIH) consensus criteria in Korea. This study aims to clarify the clinical usefulness of the modified NIH criteria for risk stratification. METHODS: From January 2000 through October 2012, 88 patients who underwent curative resection for primary GISTs were included in this study. The enrolled patients were stratified to predict recurrence by the original NIH criteria and modified NIH criteria. RESULTS: In all, 88 patients had non-gastric GISTs, including 82 and 6 patients with GISTs of the small intestine and colorectum, respectively. The mean age was 57.3+/-13.0 years, and the median follow-up duration was 3.40 years (range, 0.02-12.76 years). All patients who were placed in the intermediate-risk category according to the original NIH criteria were reclassified into the high-risk category according to the modified NIH criteria. Therefore, the proportion of cases in the intermediate-risk category declined to 0.0% from 25.0% (22/88), and the proportion of cases in the high-risk category increased to 43.2% (38/88) from 18.2% (16/88) under the modified NIH criteria. Among the 22 reclassified patients, 6 (27.3%) suffered a recurrence during the observational period, and the recurrence rate of high-risk category patients was 36.8% (14/38). CONCLUSIONS: Patients in the high-risk category according to the modified NIH criteria had a high GIST recurrence rate. Therefore, the modified NIH criteria are clinically useful in selecting patients who need imatinib adjuvant chemotherapy after curative surgical resection.
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Consensus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors* ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Intestine, Small ; Korea ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.)* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical and radiological results, as well as the survival rate, associated with total hip arthroplasty using a hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated anatomical femoral stem at a follow-up of > or =12 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 1992 to May 1997, 86 patients (102 hips) underwent total hip arthroplasty with a HA-coated ABG I (Anatomical Benoist Giraud; Howmedica) hip prosthesis. The average age at the time of surgery was 53.4 years and the mean duration of follow-up was 17.1 years (range, 12.1-21.0 years). The Harris hip score (HHS) and radiographic assessments of thigh pain were used to evaluate the clinical results. We observed osteointegration, cortical hypertrophy, reactive line, calcar resorption and osteolysis around the femoral stems. The survival rate of the femoral stems was evaluated by using the span of time to a revision operation for any reasons was defined as the end point. RESULTS: The mean HHS was 50.5 preoperatively and 84.2 at the time of last follow-up. Osteolysis only around the HA-coated proximal portion of the femoral stem was observed in 72 hips, cortical hypertrophy all around the distal portion of the femoral stem was observed in 38 hips, and calcar resorption was observed in 44 hips. A reactive line was observed in 13 hips, but was unrelated to component loosening. Stem revision operations were performed in 24 (23%) hips due to osteolysis (14 hips), fracture (5 hips) and infection (5 hips). The femoral stem survival rate was 75% over the mean duration of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Total hip arthroplasty using a HA-coated anatomical femoral stem showed necessitated a high rate of revision operations due to osteolysis around the femoral stem in this long term follow-up study.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Durapatite* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Hip Prosthesis ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Osteolysis ; Survival Rate ; Thigh

OBJECTIVE: To determne whether abnormal results of doble saeening tests for Down syndrome with MSAFP and free B-hCG are associated with adverse pregnancy outcome. METHODS: Between October 1994 and September 1997, 205 among 1731 who were screened had increased risk for Down screening program of CIS biointernational, Fetuses with Chromosomal abnormality or congenital anomalies and less than 35 years of maternal age were excluded from this study. Down syndrome screening test was performed between 14-22 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: Of 1731 women, 205 (13.4%) had increased Down syndrome risk. The pregnancy outcome of women with increased Down syndrome risk were compared with those of women without such risk There were no significant difference in the incidence of preterm labor (6[2.9%] vs 112[7.3%)), premature rupture of the membranes (2[0.9%] vs 56[3.6%]), pregnancy induced hypertension (2[0.9%] vs 36[2.3%]), abruptio placentae (0[0%] vs 2[0.1%]), low birth weight (2[0.9%] vs 21[1.3%]), oligohydramnios (4[1.9%] vs 10[0.6%]), intrauterine fetal death (0[0%] vs 2[0.1%]). CONCLUSION: False positive results of Down syndrome screening test in the 2nd trimester do not appear to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcome. But there are statistically significant increases of adverse pregnancy outcome in wemen with elevation of MSAFP or elevation of free B-hCG.
Abruptio Placentae ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Fetus ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; Incidence ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Mass Screening* ; Maternal Age ; Membranes ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Oligohydramnios ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Rupture

Tracheobronchial rupture following tracheal intubation with double-lumen endobronchial tube (DLT) is a rare complication, but may result in a massive air leakage with resultant pneumothorax, mediastinal emphysema and extensive subcutaneous emphysema in the postoperative period. We report a case of sustained laceration of the posterior membranous part of the trachea possibly due to overinflation of the double-lumen endobronchial tube. A 76-year-old, 45 kg, female was scheduled for a repair of her bronchopleural fistula. Following induction of anesthesia, intubation was performed with Robertshaw's DLT, and a tracheal cuff was inflated with 6 ml of air, but the sound of an air leak was heard coming from the patient's mouth during controlled ventilation. A further 5 ml of air was added 1 ml at a time into the tracheal cuff but the air leak sound continued. At that point, the sound was considered to originate from the bronchopleural fistula rather than from lack of sufficient air. After a thorough deflation of the tracheal cuff, 6 ml of air was reinjected and the operation was resumed. A 4 cm split was unexpectedly noticed in the posterior wall of the trachea during the operation and was repaired without complication.
Aged ; Anesthesia ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Intubation ; Lacerations ; Mediastinal Emphysema ; Mouth ; Pneumothorax ; Postoperative Period ; Rupture* ; Subcutaneous Emphysema ; Trachea ; Ventilation

Succinylcholine is commonly administered intravenously, however sometimes it can be administered intramuscularly or sublingually when an intravenous line is not available. We investigated the neuromuscular blocking effect of subcutaneous injection of succinylcholine. The 60 adult patients (ASA 1 or 2) were randomly divided into two groups. After intravenous administration of propofol 3 mg/kg, succinylcholine 1 mg/kg was administered intravenously in one group (IV group, n=10) and subcutaneously in another (SQ group, n=50). Neuromuscular transmission was monitered continuously by the train-of-four (TOF) from response stimulated the ulnar nerve with 2Hz at wrist and the evoked compound action potential of hypothenar muscles was measured with Relaxograph (Datex Co.). We determined the maximum depressed the twitch height (T(TXD)), onset time from injection of succinylcholine to T(MXD), recovery time from T(MXD) to the recovery of 75%, and duration of action from injection of succinylcholine to the recovery of 75%. In the results, T(MXD) of SQ group varied from O% to over 75% compared with 0% in IV group. The onset time of SQ group were more delayed between 7.78+/-2.80 to 13.08+/-3.51 minutes compared with 1.08+/-0.16 minutes in IV group. The recovery time of SQ group were faster between 15.67+/-10.40 to 2.59+/-1.75 minutes compared with 18.68+/-3.68 minutes in IV group. The duration of action of SQ group were not significantly different compared with IV group. And in the SQ group, the lesser depression of twitch height the slower onset time and the faster recovery time was revealed. Conclusively, the subcutaneous administration of succinylcholine 1 mg/kg resulted that the magnitudes of neuromuscular blockade was variable and incomplete, and onset time were slower but recovery were faster than intravenous injection.
Action Potentials ; Administration, Intravenous ; Adult ; Depression ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Muscles ; Neuromuscular Blockade* ; Propofol ; Succinylcholine* ; Ulnar Nerve ; Wrist

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and compare the effect of low-dye taping (LDT) and figure-8 modification of LDT (MLDT) on peak plantar pressure and heel pain in patients with heel pad atrophy. METHODS: There were reviewed 32 feet of 19 patients who have been diagnosed with heel pad atrophy who were enrolled in this study. The patients were diagnosed with heel pad atrophy with clinical findings, and loaded heel pad thickness measured by ultrasonography. At the first visit, patients were taught how to do LDT and MLDT. They were instructed to do daily living with barefoot, LDT and MLDT at least one time per day. Patients performed pedobarography with barefoot, LDT and MLDT within 2 weeks. The severity of heel pain was also checked with the visual analogue scale (VAS) during daily living with barefoot, LDT and MLDT. RESULTS: VAS of hindfoot were significantly decreased after LDT and MLDT (p < 0.01). Peak plantar pressure under hindfoot were also decreased after LDT and MLDT (p < 0.01). The effect of MLDT in decreasing peak plantar pressure of hindfoot (p < 0.01) and pain relief (p=0.001) was better than the effect of LDT. CONCLUSION: The LDT technique is clinically useful for pain management and reducing peak plantar pressure of hindfoot in patients with heel pad atrophy. MLDT is more effective than LDT in reducing peak plantar pressure and heel pain in patients with heel pad atrophy.
Atrophy* ; Foot ; Gait ; Heel* ; Humans ; Pain Management ; Ultrasonography

Nasopharyngeal swabs have been widely to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Nasopharyngeal COVID-19 testing is a generally safe and well-tolerated procedure, but numerous complications have been reported in the media. Therefore, the present study aimed to review and document adverse events and suggest procedural references to minimize preventable but often underestimated risks. A total of 27 articles were selected for the review of 842 related documents in PubMed, Embase, and KoreaMed. The complications related to nasopharyngeal COVID-19 testing were reported to be rarely happened, ranging from 0.0012 to 0.026%. Frequently documented adverse events were retained swabs, epistaxis, and cerebrospinal fluid leakage, often associated with high-risk factors, including severe septal deviations, pre-existing skull base defects, and previous sinus or transsphenoidal pituitary surgery. Appropriate techniques based on sufficient anatomical knowledge are mandatory for clinicians to perform nasopharyngeal COVID-19 testing. The nasal floor can be predicted by the line between the nostril and external ear canal. For safe testing, the angle of swab insertion in the nasal passage should remain within 30° of the nasal floor. The swab was gently inserted along the nasal septum just above the nasal floor to the nasopharynx and remained on the nasopharynx for several seconds before removal. Forceful insertion should be attempted, and alternative examinations should be considered, especially in vulnerable patients. In conclusion, patients and clinicians should be aware of rare but possible complications and associated highrisk factors. The suggested procedural pearls enable more comfortable and safe nasopharyngeal COVID-19 testing for both clinicians and patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) are at high risk for cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation. The usefulness of the CMV antigenemia assay in active UC patients has rarely been studied. We assessed whether the assay detects CMV colitis and predicts clinical outcomes in patients with UC. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients hospitalized for moderate-to-severe UC from 2003 to 2012. Positive CMV antigenemia was defined as > or =1 pp65-positive cell per 2x10(5) polymorphonuclear neutrophils. CMV colitis was defined as the presence of inclusion bodies and/or positive immunohistochemistry in the colonic mucosa. The primary outcome was steroid refractoriness, defined as the absence of clinical improvement after intravenous high-dose steroid administration. RESULTS: A total of 43 patients were enrolled. CMV antigenemia was detected in 12 (27.9%) patients. Positive CMV antigenemia was significantly associated with CMV colitis (P =0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of positive CMV antigenemia for diagnosing CMV colitis were 66.7% and 87.1%, respectively. Steroid refractoriness was found in 11 of 12 (91.7%) and 12 of 31 (38.7%) patients with positive and negative CMV antigenemia, respectively (P =0.002). The independent predictors for steroid refractoriness were positive CMV antigenemia (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 7.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22-49.19; P =0.030) and a shorter duration from the diagnosis of UC (adjusted OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98-0.99; P =0.025). CONCLUSIONS: The CMV antigenemia assay shows low sensitivity but high specificity for detecting CMV colitis and may predict steroid-refractory UC. Early rescue therapy might be considered in UC patients positive for CMV antigenemia.
Colitis ; Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Colon ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inclusion Bodies ; Medical Records ; Mucous Membrane ; Neutrophils ; Odds Ratio ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Steroids ; Treatment Failure