OBJECTIVE: To investigate the usefulness of ultrasonographic measurement of hyoid bone movement during swallowing. METHODS: Fifty-two patients who had swallowing dysfunction were enrolled in this study. When a patient swallowed 5 mL of water while maintaining an upright sitting position, hyoid bone movement during swallowing was measured with ultrasonography. Recorded images were analyzed to measure the maximum change in hyoid bone displacement. Mandible was used as reference point to calculate hyoid bone displacement. The farthest distance from resting position and the nearest distance during swallowing were measured and their differences were recorded. Participants also underwent videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS). Based on penetration-aspiration scale (PAS), they were grouped to non-aspirators (PAS 1), penetrators (PAS 2-5), or aspirators (PAS 6-8). Measured hyoid bone displacements by submental ultrasonography were compared among groups. RESULTS: The mean hyoid bone displacement in non-aspirators group (n=21, 15.9±2.7 mm) was significantly (p<0.05) greater than that in penetrators group (n=20, 11.5±2.8 mm) or aspirators group (n=11, 8.0±1.0 mm). Hyoid bone displacement below 13.5 mm as a cutoff point for detecting penetration or aspiration had a sensitivity and specificity of 83.9% and 81.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Submental ultrasonographic evaluation was well correlated with PAS measured by VFSS. Therefore, submental ultrasonographic evaluation could be a useful screening tool for dysphagic patients.
Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders* ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; Mandible ; Mass Screening ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography ; Water

A gray mold disease occurred on Cryptotaenia japonica in Korea. All the isolates of Botrytis sp. from the lesions of the diseased plants were identified to be B. cinerea based on the morphological characteristics. Conidia formed on conidiogenous cells were not in chains, hyaline to pale brown, unicellular, ellipsoidal to obovate with a single hilum at the base, entirely verruculose, and 6.3-11.3~6.3-10.0 microm in size. Pathogenicity of the fungus was proved by artificial inoculation on C. japonica. This is the first record of gray mold on C. japonica caused by B. cinerea in Korea.
Botrytis* ; Fungi* ; Hyalin ; Korea* ; Spores, Fungal ; Virulence

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors influencing the quiet standing balance of patients with incomplete cervical spinal cord injuries. Also to find the correlations between posturographic parameters and clinical balance tests as well as to find the correlation between posturographic parameters and functional independence. METHOD: We conducted a tetra-ataxiometric posturography, lower extremity motor score (LEMS), Korean version of the Berg Balance Scale (K-BBS), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and Korean Version of the Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI) of 10 patients. 10 healthy adults carried out the posturography. We checked stability, weight distribution, Fourier and synchronization indices of eight positions, and the fall index of the posturography. RESULTS: The patient group showed significantly higher stability and weight distribution indices in all eight positions. Stability indices significantly increased with eyes closed or standing on pillows. Weight distribution indices were significantly higher with eyes closed or the head bent backwards. The patient group showed significantly higher Fourier indices of low, low-medium, and high frequency in eight positions. The Fourier indices at high-medium frequency were significantly higher with eyes closed on pillows or in variable head positions. There were no significant differences of synchronization indices between the patient and the control group. The falling index of the patient group significantly correlated with K-BBS, TUG, and K-MBI. LEMS had significant correlation with some synchronization indices, but not with the falling index. CONCLUSION: The quiet standing balance of the patients was influenced by somatosensory limitations or insufficient visual compensation. We should try to improve the postural balance and functional independence of patients through proper proprioceptive and lower extremity strength training for better postural and pedal control, and to make efforts to minimize environmental hazards.
Adult ; Compensation and Redress ; Eye ; Hazardous Substances ; Head ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Postural Balance ; Posture ; Resistance Training ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries

BACKGROUND: Multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat fingerprinting (MLVF) is based on multiplex PCR, utilizing variable number tandem repeat. Our goal was to compare the performance of MLVF in distinguishing clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates with that of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), which has traditionally been the gold standard. METHODS: Sixty-three clinically significant S. aureus isolates were tested using both PFGE and MLVF. Multiplex PCR for MLVF was performed using PCR primers for clfA, clfB, sdrCDE, sspA, and spa. PFGE was performed with genomic DNA fragments generated by SmaI endonuclease digestion. Banding patterns of MLVF or PFGE were analyzed using InfoQuestFP software. RESULTS: The hands-on time of our modified method was about 3 h, on average, for each of 18 isolates. PFGE (80% cutoff) or MLVF (75% cutoff) separated all of the 63 isolates into 13 and 12 types, respectively. Three types generated by PFGE were identical to those generated by MLVF. PFGE and MLVF yielded similar Simpson's diversity indices, indicating similar discriminatory power. The overall concordance between PFGE and MLVF was low, as represented by adjusted Rand indices (0.266-0.278). PFGE predicted MLVF type better than MLVF predicted PFGE type, as reflected by Wallace coefficients (PFGE cutoff 80% vs. MLVF cutoff 75%, 0.389 vs. 0.233). Analysis of the relationship between a pair of isolates showed 91.0% concordance between the PFGE (80% cutoff) and MLVF (75% cutoff). CONCLUSIONS: Our simple, low-cost, modified MLVF protocol can effectively discriminate between S. aureus clinical isolates. MLVF can replace PFGE for the hospital infection control of S. aureus.
Bacterial Typing Techniques/*methods ; *DNA Fingerprinting ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; *Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Genotype ; Humans ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staphylococcal Infections/*microbiology ; Staphylococcus aureus/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification

No abstract available.
Aged ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Empyema/complications/diagnosis/*microbiology ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Male ; Nocardia/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Pneumonia/complications/diagnosis/*microbiology ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Compressive femoral and lateral femoral cutaneous neuropathies from an iliacus hematoma are unusual presentation. We report a case of a 16-year-old boy who developed right femoral and lateral femoral cutaneous neuropathies as a complication of traumatic ipsilateral iliacus hematoma formation. The patient complained of numbness in the right thigh and calf as well as right leg weakness, and pain in the right inguinal area. Nerve conduction study and needle electromyography identified the neuropathies. After the electrodiagnostic studies, the pelvic bone MRI revealed a large, 9x5x4.5 cm right iliacus hematoma. As a result, diagnosis of a right iliacus hematoma compressing the femoral and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves was made, and the patient underwent an operation to remove the hematoma. Symptoms and neurological signs showed notable improvement after surgical decompression. Subsequent follow-up electrodiagnostic studies after 11 weeks demonstrated regeneration evidence.
Adolescent ; Decompression, Surgical ; Electromyography ; Femoral Neuropathy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Leg ; Needles ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Neural Conduction ; Pelvic Bones ; Regeneration ; Thigh

The effect of 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DDG) on C3H mouse fibrosarcoma (FSall) was studied. Metabolic status, especially for energy metabolism, was studied using in vivo 31P-MRS, proliferative capacity was observed on flow cytometry (FC) and growth rate was measured after transplantation of 106 viable tumor cells in the dorsum of foot of C3Hf/Sed mice. One gram of 2-DDG per kg of body weight was injected intraperitoneally on 12th day of implantation. Average tumor size on 12th day of implantation was 250mm3. Growth rate of FSall tumor was measured by tumor doubling time between tumor age 5-12 days was 0.84 days with slope 0.828 and tumor doubling time between tumor age 13-28 days was 3.2 days with slope 0.218 in control group. After 2-DDG injection, tumor doubling time was elongated to 5.1 days with slope 0.136. The effect of 2-DDG studied in vivo 31P-MRS suggested that the increase of phosphomonoester (PME) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) by increasing size of tumor, slowed down after 2-DDG injection. Flow cytometry showed significantly increased S-phase and G2+M phase fraction suggesting increased proliferative capacity of tumor cells in the presence of 2-DDG. Authors observed an interesting effect 2-DDG on FSall tumor and attempt to utilize as an adjunct for radiotherapy.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Deoxyglucose* ; Energy Metabolism ; Fibrosarcoma ; Flow Cytometry* ; Foot ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C3H ; Radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE: To determine the nutritional status of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to compare their anthropometric and functional indices. METHOD: Seventy children with cerebral palsy, were at class I (12), II (17), III (18), IV (9) and V (14) on Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). They varied by age from 25 to 130 months with a mean of 48 months, and consisted of spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (30), quadriplegia (28), triplegia (3), hemiplegia (4), athetoid (4) and hypotonia (1). Evaluation of weight, height, subcutaneous fat thickness, brachial circumference, Body Mass Index (BMI), level of albumin, lymphocyte and blood ferritn were conducted. To identify the factors affecting nutritional status, dietary status and symptoms of dysphagia were investigated. RESULTS: Low BMI percentile was in 23 children (32.9%) and obese condition in 3 children (4.3%). Low BMI percentile tends to frequently observed in groups III, IV, V of GMFCS. BMI percentile with subcutaneous fat thickness, Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) score were significantly related (p<0.05). Seen from the symptom of dysphagia, low BMI percentile was correlated with decreased tongue motion (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Cerebral palsy children with lower GMFM score, decreased tongue motion were significantly related with low BMI percentile. Subcutaneous fat thickness can be useful tool for evaluation of malnutrition of cerebral palsy children.
Body Mass Index ; Cerebral Palsy ; Child ; Deglutition Disorders ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Malnutrition ; Muscle Hypotonia ; Muscle Spasticity ; Nutritional Status ; Quadriplegia ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Tongue

BACKGROUND: Since the bioavailability of itraconazole capsule is influenced by patients gastric acidity, it results in treatment failure due to its low dissolution and subsequent low absorption when administered in fasting. Itraconazole Melt-Extrusion tablet has been lately developed in order to improve its dissolution profile. It is the first clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of itraconazole Melt-Extrusion tablet in Korea. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of itraconazole melt-extrusion tablet 400mg daily for 1 week(pulse therapy) for hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and manus. METHODS: A clinical and mycological investigation was made of 812 outpatients with hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea manus who had visited at 52 general hospitals under the lead of the Korean Dermatological Association from June to December, 1998. Patients confirmed by clinically and microscopically as hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea manus were administered 2 tablets twice a day for one week and followed up for 8 weeks from the start of the medication. RESULTS: The results were summarized as follows; 1. Clinical symptoms of hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea mauns were significantly improved at the end of study, week 8(p<0.001). 2. Clinical response rate, defined as more than 50% decrease of the sum of the clinical symptom scores, was 79.3%(512/646). 3. Mycological cure rate, dafined as both culture and KOH negative at week 8, was 78.2%(244 /312). 4. 40(5.5%) patients, of the 727 patients evaluable for drug safety evaluation, were reported to have adverse event. CONCLUSION: Itraconazole Melt-Extrusion tablet 400mg/day for 1 week (pulse therapy) is effective and safe in the treatment of hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea manus.
Absorption ; Biological Availability ; Fasting ; Gastric Acid ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Itraconazole* ; Korea ; Outpatients ; Tablets ; Tinea Pedis* ; Tinea* ; Treatment Failure