Sleep disorders such as insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and restless legs syndrome (RLS) are very common disorders and may cause significant burden in terms of individual as well as societal aspects. Sleep insufficiency from such sleep disorders may cause deleterious effects on daily work life and may be associated with other major medical or psychiatric disorders including cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, depression, and anxiety disorder. Various motor or occupational accident may result from the sleep problems. In addition, recent researches provide the method to evaluate the lost productivity time in terms of absenteeism and presenteeism. Moreover, several studies on cost-effectiveness of treatment of sleep disorders show that it is cost-effective.
Absenteeism ; Accidents, Occupational ; Anxiety Disorders ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Depression ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Efficiency ; Restless Legs Syndrome ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

No abstract available.
Leukemia*

Locking of the metacarpophalangeal(MP) joint of thumb in mild hyperextension is relatively uncommon problem. The most frequently recognized cause appears that proximal palmar ligament or volar plate were ruptured tranversely with its distal part riding over the volar prominence of the radial condyle of the first metacarpal head. We experienced two cases of locking of the MP joint of the thumb due to volar plate injury. Closed reduction was failed in both cases and open reduction was done by cutting the constricted ligament hundle over the radial condyle of the first metacarpal head. Our description of this mechanism is supported by expeimental evidence that we obtained from the cadeveric specimens. The height of radial side condyle of first metacarpal head is higher than ulna side of that by 1.76mm in both hands of 16 cadeveric specimen. So we are going to report these cases with a review of the literature, and suggest that the preferable location of surgical incision in open reduction is radial side of metacarpal head.
Hand ; Head* ; Joints ; Ligaments ; Metacarpal Bones* ; Metacarpophalangeal Joint* ; Thumb* ; Ulna ; Palmar Plate

BACKGROUND: Desflurane is a new inhaled anesthetic with the lowest blood/gas partition coefficient and enflurane is one of the major anesthetics in these days. But the effect of volatile anesthetics and the site of action on the blood vessel are still controversial. Since Furchgott (1980) discovered endothelium derived relaxing factor (EDRF) from endothelium, many investigators have studied about the relationship between the EDRF and the effect of the volatile anesthetics on blood vessels. In this study, we evaluated that the effect and the action site of enflurane and desflurane on isolated aortic rings of the rabbit. METHODS: Each of obtained thoracic aorta from rabbits (1.5~2.5 kg) was divided into 4~6 mm rings, and a half of that were denuded. All of the aortic rings were preconstricted with phenylephrine 1.5 10-7 Mole in warm organ bath filled with modified Krebs' solution, and then LNAME (inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, 3 10-4Mole) was administered to one group of aortic rings. MB (inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase, 2 10-5Mole) was administered to another one group and neither of LNAME nor MB was administered to the other group. And then enflurane (1%, 2%, 3%, 4%) or desflurane (6%, 9%, 12%) was administered to all of aortic rings. The polygraph recorded the changes of tension of aortic ring which was transmitted through the force transducer. RESULTS: It was proved that basal EDRF was released from endothelium by the fact that intact aortic rings were more constricted after LNAME or MB administration. The intact aortic rings were constricted in all concentration of enflurane and both intact and denuded rings were maintained from control tension in all concentrations of desflurane. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that enflurane in all concentrations has an endothelium-mediated vasoconstriction effect and desflurane in all concentrations has no effect on isolated aortic rings of rabbit.
Anesthetics ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Arginine* ; Baths ; Blood Vessels ; Endothelium ; Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors ; Enflurane* ; Guanylate Cyclase ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Phenylephrine ; Rabbits ; Research Personnel ; Transducers ; Vasoconstriction

BACKGROUND: According as old aged people have an increased interest in early detection of disease and health promotion, old aged people who take health examinations are increased. So this study is aimed to survey common problems about geriatric health in community and their frequency by way of investigation on diagnosis in health examination data and to evaluate the effects of health risk factors on each disease patterns. METHODS: The medical records of the clients who have taken health examinations for the first time from March 1995 to February 2000 at a health examination center of a university hospital in Seoul were reviewed. The category and number of judged diagnosis, sociodemographic factors are compared and analyzed. RESULTS: The selected medical records accounted to 22,393. The study subjects consist of 11,544(51.6%) male. Mean age is 52.0+/-10.5 years(range 16~90). 65 years or more old aged people of them are 2,612(11.7%), the number of judged diagnosis per one old person is 4.84+/-2.22(range 0~9) and young people took less diagnosis is 35.7%, functional diagnosis is 7.9%. The common diagnoses are liver disease(7.07%), decreased physical strength(6.68%), hyperlipidemin(6.53%),obesity(5.90%), osteoporosis or postmenopausal syndrome(4.72%), need for immunization against viral hepatitis(4.69%), hypertension(4.20%) functional gastrointestinal disease(3.93%). The number of total diagnosis and organic diagnosis is larger in older age, no exercise, female,smoker, no-spouse, lower education(p<0.05). The number of other diagnosis is larger in no exercise, smoker, female, younger age(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: According to health examination, total diagnosis and organic diagnosis are more in old aged group than in young. Functioinal diagnosis and other diagnosis is less in old aged group than in young.
Diagnosis* ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Immunization ; Liver ; Male ; Medical Records ; Osteoporosis ; Risk Factors ; Seoul

Natural cytotoxicity mediated by natural killer (NK) cells is believed to play an important role in host anticancer defense mechanisms. The aim of this study is to compare the number of NK cells in patients with colorectal cancer and hemorrhoids, and before and after surgery in patients with colorectal cancer. Twenty colorectal cancer patients and twenty hemorrhoid ones were studied. Venous blood samples were obtained preoperatively, and on the 7th, and 14th postoperative days. Mononuclear cells were isolated over Ficoll-Hypaque gradients, and T cells, B cells, and NK cells were measured with CD3 FITC (T cell), CD 19 PE (B cell), and CD56 FITC (NK cell) antibody, The number of T cell (/mm3) was 1224, 1280, and 1125 at preoperative, 7th, and 14th postoperative day in hemorrhoid patients and 1195, 901, and 1060 in colorectal cancer patients respectively. The number of B cell (/mm3) was 243, 160, and 250 in hemorrhoid patients and 147, 78, and 113 in colorectal cancer patients. The number NK cell (/mm3) was 148, 156, and 143 in hemorrhoid patients and 129, 85, and 128 in colorectal cancer patients. There was no difference among Dukes stages in the number of NK cells. In conclusion, the number of NK cells was not changed in colorectal cancer patients compared with hemorrhoid ones. Major operation changed the number of NK cells in colorectal cancer patients.
B-Lymphocytes ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Defense Mechanisms ; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate ; Hemorrhoids ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural* ; T-Lymphocytes

No abstract available.
Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch* ; Streptococcal Infections*

Although flexion and extension lateral views were known the most preferable diagnostic method of instability of lumbar spine, many authors had reported that there were some findings which suggested instability of lumbar spine in plain films. This study was undertaken to analyze clinical aspect and plain film findings of dynamic instability of lumbar spine and to suggest indication of dynamic X-ray to find out the causes of low back pain. A retrospective analsysis was perfomed on 30 patients who had dynamic instability of lumbar spine without spondylolithesis between January 1996 and March 1997. They were reviewed in sex, age, symptom duration and instability level, etiologic factor etc. And then their plain films and flexion and extension lateral views were reviewed. Following results were obtained. Dynamic instability was more frequent in women than in man and occured younger age in women. The mean symptom duration was 5 years and 10 months and simple degenerative change was the most common etiologic factor. In plain films, traction spur and dome shaped end plate were common findings and the L4-5 intervertebral disc space was most frequently involved(23/30 cases). Translation was occured more frequently in flexion position(23/30 cases). The mean dynamic translation distance was 4.7mm, the mean sagittal rotational angle was 16.2degreesand the mean angular displacement was 3.2degrees. Conclusively, among the diagnostic criteria af instability of lumbar spine, translational distance was the most common finding. Flexion and extension lateral views have diagnostic value in patients who complaint back pain from unknown origin, in old age, for prolonged symptom duration, or those who have findings associated with instability in plain films.
Back Pain ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Low Back Pain ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine* ; Spondylolisthesis* ; Traction

We present an unusual case of 31 year old lady with a longitudinal tear of flexor hallucis longus(FHL) caused by trauma. Tendonitis of the FHL, well known as dancers tendonitis, can be characterized by triggering of the great toe. As the foot is brought into plantar flexion with a forcible active contraction of the FHL, a snap is noted in the region of the posteromedial aspect of the ankle. Magnetic resonance imaging may be helpful in establishing diagnosis. The patient has obtained longterm satisfactory relief of her symptoms with surgical treatment. The literature on tendonitis of the FHL is reviewed with a reported case.
Adult ; Ankle ; Diagnosis ; Foot ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Tendinopathy* ; Tendons* ; Toes*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Mycobacterium chelonae*