As a new concept of resistive exercise, isokinetic exercise was developed during the early 1950's. In isokinetic exercise, the subject works at a fixed speed against variable and totally accommodating resistance. The isokinetic equipment has been used widely as a therapeutic modality in clinical setting, as a training and testing device for sports practicians, and as a method for scientific examination of postoperative status of muscles and joint function for orthopedists. In order to acquire the isokinetic normative data of the knee for clinical use, we examined the flexor and extensor muscle force of the knee joint in 160 subjects with Cybex II. The results were as follows; 1. Mean values of extensor strength were 76.04 ft.-1bs in right knee 75.45 ft.-lbs in left knee, 78.42 ft.-1bs in dominent hand side leg 73.84 ft.-1bs in non-dominent hand side leg, and 82.52 ft.-1bs in dominent leg 71.93 ft.-lbs in non-dominent leg. 2. Sex difference of extensor strength were 95.13 ft.-lbs in male 55.98 ft.-1bs in female, and that of flexor strength were 54.90 ft.-1bs in male 33.68 ft.-1bs in female. 3. Mean of position angle of maximal torque were between 58° and 65° for extensors, 35° and 45° for flexors. 4. Mean of total range of motion at working isokinetically with 60°/sec speed was 99°. 5. Mean values of extensor power were 54.43 ft.-1bs in male 30.63 ft.-lbs in female, and that of flexor power were 35.99 ft.-1bs in male 22.42 ft.-1bs in female. 6. Strength and power decreased as ages getting old, and there was significant diminish between 4th decade and 5th decade. 7. Power endurance had more difference when it was compared with occupation. Mean value of power endurance was between 12 times and 18 times.
Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee Joint ; Knee ; Leg ; Male ; Methods ; Muscles ; Occupations ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Sex Characteristics ; Sports ; Torque

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary thromboembolism is relatively frequent and potentially fatal. However, it is commonly misdiagnosed. The incidence of pulmonary thromboembolism is not decreasing despite advances in diagnosis and effective prophylatic measures. Its potential for significant sequela necessitates a prompt diagnosis and treatment. Unfortunately, there are many difficulties and problems regarding accurate diagnosis. There is a low prevalence of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism in Korea and only few reports on this subject are available. METHOD: The clinical features of 36 patients, who were diagnosed with pulmonary thromboembolism at the Korea University medical center, were reviewed. RESULTS: 1) There was no significant difference in prevalence between men an women, and the mean age was 50.9 years in men 59.2 years in women. 2) The frequent causes of pulmonary thromboembolism were malignancies (22.2%), surgery (22.2%), and heart disease(8.2%). Specific causes were not identified in 33.3%. 3) The most common symptom was dyspnea(72.2%), and the most common sign was tachypnea(61.1%). 4) The EKG findings were normal in 28.6%, and S1Q3T3 pulmonale pattern in 25.7%, ST or QRS changes in others. 5) The chest X-ray findings indicated pulmonary infiltation in 37.5%, cardiomegaly in 15.6%, pleural effusion in 12.5%, and normal in 27.8%. The perfusion lung scan showed a high probability in 66.7%, and intermediate or low probability in 33.3%. 6) The pulmonary arterial pressure(PAP) in the high probability groups was 57.9mmHg with a higher mortality rate(35%). CONCLUSION: Pulmonary thromboembolism is not uncommon in Korea and its clinical features do not differ greatly from those reported in the literature. When pulmonary thromboemblism of unknown causes are diagnosed, a search for an occult malignancy is recommended. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are achieved when thromboemblism is suspected.
Academic Medical Centers ; Cardiomegaly ; Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lung ; Male ; Mortality ; Perfusion ; Pleural Effusion ; Prevalence ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Thorax ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Venous Thrombosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECT: Immunostimulatory CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (ISS CpG-ODN) up-regulate the TH1-type immune response and down-regulate the TH2-type response. This study was performed to investigate the immune response changes resulting from ISS CpG-ODN on bronchial hyperrestponsiveness, eosinophilic inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in rat asthma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 10 normal controls(NC) and 26 asthmatic rats, which were generated by ovallbumin(OVA) sensitization and challenge, were studied. The asthmatic rats were randomized into 11 asthma controls(AC) and 15 in the asthma-CpG treatment group(CpG). The CpG group was administered ISS CpG-ODN intramuscularly and the AC group was administered a placebo(0.9% NaCl)on day 15 and 20. After CpG-ODN or placebo administration, we measured the IFN-(TH1-type cytokine) and IL-4(TH2-type cytokine) levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF), the specific airway resistance(sRaw), eosinophilic fraction in BALF, eosinophilic infiltration, goblet cell dysplasia and MUC5AC gene expression in the lung tissue. RESULTS: In the BALF of the CpG group, the IFN-γ concentration was significantly high and the IL-4 concentration was significantly low when compared with the AC group. Both the sRaw and eosinophilic fraction, and infiltration into the BALF and lung tissue significantly lower in the CpG group when compared with the AC group. However, little difference in goblet cell dysplasia and MUC5Ac gene expression was observed between the CpG group and the Ac group. CONCLUSION: ISS CpG-ODN decreases bronchial hyperresponsiveness and eosinophilic inflammation in the rat asthma model through the up-regulation of the TH1-type immune response with the down-regulation of the TH2-type response. However, the effect of these immune response changes on mucus hypersecretion was is not remarkable in this study.
Animals ; Asthma* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Down-Regulation ; Eosinophils ; Gene Expression ; Goblet Cells ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-4 ; Lung ; Mucus ; Rats* ; Up-Regulation

Congenital renal arteriovenous fistula is a rare disease and manifested by gross hematuria, bladder tamponade and flank pain. We experienced one case of congenital renal arteriovenous firstula which was cirsoid type and treated with superselective transcatheter arterial embolization of four small segmental arteries. The microcoils made of platinum and synthetic fiber were used as theembolization modality.
Arteries ; Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Flank Pain ; Hematuria ; Platinum ; Rare Diseases ; Urinary Bladder

BACKGROUND: During a 1-month period in 2005 , a series of 4 Leclercia adecarboxylata and 8 Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremias were reported from patients admitted to the emergency room. METHODS: An outbreak of L. adecarboxylata and P. aeruginosa bacteremia that occurred from February to March 2005 was investigated. The infection control nurse reviewed medical records and observed the procedures of blood cultures at the clinical microbiology laboratory. Specimens were obtained for investigational cultures from alcohol sponge, tray, sink, water of sink, saline cotton, microscope, computer, and telephone. RESULTS: L. adecarboxylata was isolated from 4 patients and P. aeruginosa from 8 patients during a 1-month period. Observation of the culture procedure revealed that saline cotton was used to prevent betadin skin discoloration. The culture of the saline solution yielded a heavy growth of P. aeruginosa, which was not isolated from any other specimens. CONCLUSIONS: This was a pseudoepidemic caused by contaminated saline cotton. The use of the saline cotton was stopped, and during the follow-up period of 3 months, no additional L. adecarboxylata or P. aeruginosa bacteremia were reported.
Bacteremia ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Enterobacteriaceae* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Medical Records ; Porifera ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Skin ; Sodium Chloride ; Telephone ; Water

Multiple pulmonary nodules were found in a 71-year-old Korean female patient with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma during diagnostic work-up. A presumptive diagnosis of metastases was made and percutaneous fine needle aspiration cytology was undertaken. Finally, pathological examination of the tissue revealed granulomatous inflammation with cryptococcal infection. The patient received 6 months of antifungal treatment with fluconazole and her chest radiographic findings were improved after the treatment. She is now under clinical follow-up. Recognition that pulmonary cryptococcal infection can mimic metastasis is important in reaching the correct diagnosis and in determining the correct treatment.
Aged ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cryptococcosis* ; Cryptococcus ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fluconazole ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Radiography, Thoracic

OBJECTIVES: To identify the better option of treatment, we compared the surgical results and efficacy of combined anterior-posterior approach versus posterior fixation alone. METHODS: During a 10 years period from 2002 to 2011, 111 patients with thoracolumbar burst fracture was surgically managed at our institute. 25 patients were managed by a combined anterior-posterior surgery and 86 patients were managed by posterior fusion alone. Radiographs were repeated at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after operation. Radiologic outcome was evaluated by measuring Kyphotic angulation and vertebral height and the clinical outcome was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) score comparison. RESULTS: The average Cobb's angle difference between immediate post operative and last follow up was 15.0degrees in combined 360-degree fusion group and 7.5degrees in posterior surgery alone group. A corrections of vertebral body height between immediate post operative and last follow up was 2.27 mm in 360-degree fusion group while 0.59 mm in posterior fixation group. The VAS score decreased from 8.4 to 2.2 after post operation 24 months in 360-degree fusion group and the posterior surgery alone group decreased 9.3 to 6.2 after post operation 24 months. CONCLUSION: The combined anterior-posterior approach resulted in less deterioration of the kyphotic angle postoperatively and improvement of vertebral height (sagittal index). Clinical outcome was also better in the combined group.
Body Height ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Exposure to noise results in pertubations of cochlear microcirculation. There is evidence that these events are mediated, in part, by the calcium channel. The subsequent decrease in cochlear blood flow may lead to hypoxia and predispose to the formation of free oxygen radicals. Saponin extracted from Korean red ginseng is generally known to enhance blood flow and scavenge for free oxygen radicals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the effect of saponin (100 mg/kg) on the cochlear damage induced by noise exposure (1500 Hz narrow band noise, 115 dB, 12hours) in guinea pigs through auditory brainstem response (ABR) and with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), RESULTS: After noise exposure, the saponin pre-treated group showed a significant decrease in the ARR threshold compared with the saponin non- treated group. Also, SEM findings of the cochlea showed that there was a minimal structural change in the outer hair cells in the saponin pre-treated group. CONCLUSION: Saponin extracted from Korean red ginseng can attenuate noise induced cochlear damage in guinea pigs.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Calcium Channels ; Cochlea ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Guinea Pigs ; Hair ; Hearing Loss ; Microcirculation ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Noise* ; Panax* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Saponins*

OBJECTIVES: Recently,tinea pedis has been reported to be a type of occupational dermatoses because of its high prevalence in specific working conditions.Although there is no doubt that the environment surrounding work places, the usual habits of workers etc are intimately related to this skin conditions, there is some controversy as to whether or not this condition is a real occupational illness and what is the exact cause of the high prevalence of this illness is. In this study, the prevalence of tinea pedis in workers from the shipbuilding industry was investigated andthe risk factors of this disease were evaluated. This study also aimed to verify whether or not tinea pedis is one of the occupational diseases. METHODS: The results of interviews, questionnaires and clinical findings from 1,419 workers who visited the occupational health center for an annual routine check for their health state were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 1,419 workers, 778 workers (54.8%)had tinea pedis. By simple logistic regression analysis,the prevalence of tinea pedis was found to be affected by some variables, including the job category, the types of work,the kinds of footwear, whether or not they were using communal baths in the work places, and a family history of tinea pedis.In contrast, by multiple logistic regression analysis,only utilization of the communal baths in the work places and a family history of tinea pedis turned out to be statistically significant risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the major factors contributing to the high prevalence of tinea pedis are the use of communal baths in the workplace and a positive family history. However, the wearing of safety shoes was not statistically significant. Therefore, tinea pedis could not be confirmed to be an occupational disease. On the basis of these results, a solution to the environmental hygiene of communal baths and the personal hygiene of individuals needs to be improved in order to prevent tinea pedis.
Baths ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Logistic Models ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Health ; Prevalence* ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors* ; Shoes ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Tinea Pedis* ; Tinea* ; Workplace

BACKGROUND: The herbicide paraquat can cause severe lung injury and fibrosis in experimental animals. In this study we have investigated the changes in lung endothelin-1 levels and immunohistochemical localization in relation to treatment with cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone in paraquat induced pulmonary fibrosis in guinea pigs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 29 male Hartley guinea pigs were divided into 4 groups. Group I was normal control. Paraquat was instilled into the lung of guinea pig of group II, III and IV unilaterally. Group II was treated with cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone. Group III was treated with methlprednisolone. Group IV was not treated. The degree of fibrosis was evaluated by H-E stains and Masson's trichrome stains and cell activity was assessed by endothelin-1 immunohistochemical stains. Statistical evaluation was performed using the Kruskawallis oneway analysis. RESULTS: Paraquat induced an increase in numbers of fibroblasts and total amount of lung collagen in Group IV compared to the normal controls. There was no significant difference in total numbers of fibroblasts between any of paraquat instilled groups, but there was significant increase in total amount of collagen in Group IV compared to group II and III (p<0.05).The treatment of cyclophosphamide and methyprednisolone suppressed the growths of both fibroblasts and collagen, but this suppression was stastically significant only in the case of collagen. ET-1(endothelin 1) immunoreactivities of bronchial epithelium, type II pneumocytes, endothelial cells and fibroblast in group II and III were decreased compared to those in group IV. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that ET-1 is an important contributing factor in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. ET-1 is synthesized and released by bronchial epithelium, Type II pneumocyte, endothelial cells, alveolar macrophages and fibroblasts.Especially they are associated with alveolar macrophage and fibroblasts. We conclude that combined therapy of cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone are more effective in the control of ET-1 expression and collagen deposition.
Animals ; Collagen ; Coloring Agents ; Cyclophosphamide* ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelin-1* ; Epithelium ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Injury ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; Male ; Methylprednisolone* ; Paraquat ; Pneumocytes ; Pulmonary Fibrosis*